Saints Drop Game One 11-2 To Belle Plaine, Face Elimination Friday
Posted August 3, 2012
By CJ Siewert
The last two games for the St. Peter town team haven’t been pretty. The Saints trailed New Ulm 6-1 in the seventh inning last Friday before scoring nine unanswered runs to clinch a Region 6C berth. On Thursday night at Veterans Field, St. Peter found itself in a similar situation, but couldn't rally late in the game, falling 11-2 to Belle Plaine in the first game of a best of three Region series.
The game actually started on Wednesday night, but was postponed in the top of the fourth inning due to lightning. Two scoreless innings went by until the Saints tacked on the first run in the bottom of the third. CJ Siewert led off with a double, advanced to third on a grounder and scored on another grounder by Billy Hanson.
Belle Plaine threatened in the fourth by loading the bases after two singles and an error, but with two outs and a 0-2 count to Miah Fogarty, lightning struck and the game was called.
Play resumed the following day right where it left off. Saints starter Jeff Wenner restarted the game with a ball but got Fogarty to swing and miss for strike three, killing the delayed Belle Plaine rally.
The Tigers got to Wenner in the fifth, though, with a three-run homer by Dan Huber that proved to be the game-winner. Wenner suffered the loss after giving up three runs on seven hits. He struck out three and walked two. The visitors tacked on two more runs in the sixth off reliever Jordan Seebach and increased their lead to 8-1 in the seventh.
The local nine scored its first run on the new day in the eighth. Jordan Wilmes and Ryan Wenner started the frame with consecutive singles, followed by a walk issued to Mike Enz to load the bases. Jeff Menk then hit an RBI single, but the bases were left full after a strikeout and fielder’s choice.
Tony Vetter pitched the final two and two-thirds innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on two hits with three strikeouts and three walks.
Menk led the Saints at the plate with a 2-for-4 performance, including an RBI.
St. Peter faces a win-or-go-home scenario Friday night (7:30) at Belle Plaine. If the Saints lose, their season is over – if they win, the series continues for the deciding game three Sunday back at Veterans Field with the winner advancing to the Class C State Tournament.
Photos by Pat Beck (St. Peter Herald): Belle Plaine's Mat Schultz scores as the wide throw home gets by St. Peter catcher Billy Hanson.
