Local Nine Takes Consolation Championship At High Life Invite
Posted June 20, 2017
ST. PETER, Minn. – The St. Peter amateur baseball club spent the weekend competing at the annual High Life Invite, hosted by Arlington and Gaylord, and came away with the consolation championship in a field of 16 teams. The Saints lost the opening round game to Fairmont, but rebounded with wins over Rosetown, Watertown, and Milroy to hoist their second trophy in the past four years at the High Life Invite after claiming the championship in 2014.
After dropping a shorthanded 10-2 decision to Fairmont with just one man on the bench, St. Peter made quick work of Class A Rosetown in an 8-1 victory. Jesse Anderson had his pitching performance of the season, going the distance (all tourney games seven innings) while throwing only 48 pitches. He allowed one run and five hits with two strikeouts and zero walks. Jeff Menk reached base all four times, going 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI.
The Saints continued to pitch and hit well Saturday against Watertown, claiming an 8-0 win. Luke Schwarz tossed a complete game shutout, giving up just two hits with five strikeouts and two walks. Schwarz helped his own cause at the plate as well, going 3-for-3 with a double, triple, walk, run, and RBI. Ty Kaus added three hits, a run, and an RBI.
The consolation championship pitted the Saints against the Milroy Yankees and the local nine came away with a 7-5 victory. With the game tied 1-1 after two frames, the Saints took a two-run lead in the third as Nate Wenner and Schwarz scored on consecutive hits by Steven Nessler and Ryan Kapsner. STP added a run in the fifth after Schwarz singled and scored on a grounder by Kapsner. The Yankees responded with four runs in the sixth inning to take a 5-4 lead, while knocking starter Cullen Bruce off the mound. Newcomer Andy Regner, fresh out of his sophomore year at St. Peter High School, got his first town team appearance in relief. Regner allowed one run, but limited the damage to keep the Saints in the game. The offense responded with three runs in the bottom half as Wenner, Schwarz, and Nessler each knocked in a run and Regner finished off the Yankees in the seventh to secure the consolation title. Regner earned the win after two innings of relief. He allowed one run on two hits with two strikeouts, a walk, and a hit-by-pitch. Nessler led the team at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two RBI. Billy Hanson added two doubles, a walk, run, and an RBI.
St. Peter (10-4) hosts Class B Prior Lake at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, and then returns to River Valley League play – where it holds an undefeated 6-0 record – at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Le Sueur. The Saints close out the weekend at 6 p.m. Sunday against Gaylord at Veterans Field.
