|
The Forest Lake Brewers play at 8:30 Friday night in Chaska for the opening round of the state tourney.
(Photo by Cliff Buchan)
Regional runners-up advance, play Friday
Clint Riese
Sports Editor
Forest Lake will be represented in the Class C state baseball tournament.
The host Brewers (21-11) finished second in the regional tournament last weekend, punching a postseason ticket to the 32-team playoff in Chaska and Shakopee. Forest Lake will open Friday night against the Region 12C champion Ada Athletics (26-13) of the Norman-Polk League.
The accomplishment comes as no surprise to co-manager Adam Gallatin, who said the roster has been improving every year.
“We are successful when we throw strikes, mix speeds, and play defense,” Gallatin said. “Those are the things we have done well this year, so if that continues into the state tournament, we can play with anybody.”
The Brewers clinched the tourney berth with a 11-3 romp of Metro Minny League rival St. Francis Saturday night. A seven-run sixth inning broke open a tied game. Five walks and a bases-clearing double by John Mollner keyed the surge.
Ace Chris Parent continued his dominance, allowing one earned run off five hits over six innings to pick up the win.
Mollner, Nick Bolin, Bobby Hager, Trip Schultz, Paul Miron and Nick Carroll all had multiple hits.
In the championship, the Brewers ran into top-seeded Isanti, which won two elmination games to advance through the losers’ bracket. Forest Lake could not stop the Redbirds; momentum, falling 8-3 Sunday afternoon.
The Brewers left 11 runners on base, hit into two double plays and committed four errors. Dave Gauerke allowed five earned runs in five innings for the loss.
“Dave pitched pretty well, but our defense, which is usually our strong point, kind of let him down,” said Gallatin. “I don’t want to take anything away from Isanti because they are a good hitting team, but I think we kind of had a letdown after clinching the night before.”
Schultz had three hits and an RBI.
The Brewers do not know much about Ada, so Gallatin will try to put together a scouting report from contacting two Minny League teams that played the A’s this season.
The team is also still working in three pitchers drafted from the Champlin LoGators, who combined for four innings of scoreless relief over the weekend. Hard-throwing Ryan Bruns will be relied on to hold leads, and Alex Gustufson and Dan Virchow deepen the bullpen.
Forest Lake has not been to state in 12 years, but Gallatin thinks the team will rise to the occasion. Parent, Bolin and pitcher Zach Guttormson have played in state and many players have been to college playoffs.
“I don’t see experience being an issue,” Gallatin said. “It’s still 90 feet between each base.”
Isanti faces Bemidji at 6 p.m. on Friday in Chaska.
Region 1C Tournament results
Thursday
Princeton 7, Mora 5
(Mora eliminated)
Friday
Princeton 7, Hinckley 5
(Hinckley eliminated)
Saturday
Isanti 14, Princeton 7
(Princeton eliminated)
FL 11, St. Francis 3
(FL advances to state)
Sunday
Isanti 9, St. Francis 2
(Isanti advances to state)
Isanti 8, Forest Lake 3
(State seeding game)
|
