The Elrosa Saints claimed the SCL-North playoff crown with an 11-1 win Sunday, Aug. 1 over Spring Hill in Elrosa.

Both Elrosa and Spring Hill qualified for the Region 15C Tournament that will open Saturday, Aug. 7 in Greenwald. The Saints went unbeaten in the SCL-North playoffs defeating New Munich and Spring Hill.

Spring Hill-3

Meire Grove-0

Spring Hill qualified for the Region 15C Tournament when it defeated Meire Grove 3-0 Saturday, July 31 at Spring Hill. That game was a pitchers' duel to the last at bat. The Chargers took the game on Shawn Schoenberg's three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Both sides had opportunities to score in the game. Meire Grove loaded the bases in the first inning with two out, but Spring Hill starter Aaron Welle had the final batter that inning pop up for the third out. The Grovers only other serious threat came in the sixth inning when the leadoff batter reached on an error and was sacrificed to third base. The threat ended when the runner was picked off of third base.

The Chargers had runners reach third in the second, fourth, seventh and eighth innings, but could not capitalize on those scoring opportunities. as Meire Grove starter Matt Imdieke had them popping up or grounding out.

Imdieke and Welle both pitched the distance in the game and both had to pitch out of jams at different times in the game.

Spring Hill opened the ninth inning with Eric Terres reaching on a single. A sacrifice bunt by Jeff Schoenberg moved him to second base.

With two out, Jamie Terres reached base after he was hit by the pitch. Shawn Schoenberg followed Terres and hit the game-ending home run.

Also getting hits for Spring Hill were: Eric Schoenberg, Jamie Terres, Nathan Terres, and Chad Spanier. Meire Grove hits came from Jeron Klaphake, Kyle Marthaler, Josh Meyer and Imdieke. Neither team committed an error.

Elrosa-11

Spring Hill-1

Elrosa never trailed in the game, but it never really dominated it either until its six-run sixth inning. Only two of those runs were earned, as Spring Hill had two errors that inning.

The Saints took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on a sacrifice fly by Matt Middendorf. It also had RBI hits from Jon Olmscheid, who was 3-4 with three RBI in the game, in the third and fifth innings and Ethan Vogt in the fourth inning as they built to a 4-1 lead before the sixth inning.

Spring Hill's lone run in the game came in the fourth inning. Cody Eichers, who had singled, scored when Elrosa's infielder committed a throwing error allowing him to score from second base. Elrosa also had a unique play that inning. Olmscheid, playing right field, threw to second base to pick-up an assist on a force out. The Saints also turned a second-short-first double play in the game.

The Saints' sixth inning had only three hits, all singles by Steve Mueller, Olmscheid (who drove in a run with his), and Matt Bauer. Also getting hits for Elrosa were Randy Duevel (2-2), Mike Whittmore (double), Pat Illies, Kevin Kuefler and Dustin Breitbach.

Aaron Vogt was the winning pitcher. He pitched five innings and struck out four. Whittemore also pitched for Elrosa.

Spring Hill's Shawn Schoenberg singled twice and he stole two bases. Also hitting were: Jamie Terres, Nathan Terres, and Brent Terres.

Eric Schoenberg started and took the loss. Chris Spanier also pitched in the game for Spring Hill.

(Melrose Beacon)