Ft. Ripley came out ahead in a 12-inning pitching duel this afternoon at Belle Plaine.
The Rebels broke a scoreless tie with two runs in the 12th inning. Jim Kramer started the rally with a walk. After Bill Sather doubled, Ethan Branum was put it to pinch run for Kramer. Spring Hill intentionally walked Rhett Williamson but Brian Skluzacek had an infield single to score Branum. A wild pitch then allowed Sather to score.
Spring Hill, which had only six hits in the game, threatened to tie the score in the bottom of the ninth inning. Shawn Schoenberg opened with a walk and Corey Schoenberg followed with a double. With one one Cody Eichers delivered a sacrifice fly, but Logan Kalis had the following batter ground out to the end the inning.
While Ft. Ripley’s pitchers controlled the Spring Hill offense, the Chargers defense kept finding ways to stop Ft. Ripley from scoring. Branum started and pitched the first eight innings before turning the pitching chores over to Kalis. Spring Hill starter, Ethan Vogt, pitched seven and one-third innings. Brad Mergen finished the game for Spring Hill. Spring Hill finishes at 21-5 on the year.
(Mid MN Amateur Baseball Blog)
