FAIRFAX HEADS TO BELLE PLAINE, THEN STATE TOURNAMENT.  RED BIRDS LOOK TO 2012.

The Fairfax Cardinals slipped past the Red Birds, 4-2 on Friday night and earned a berth in the State Tournament and a seeding game against Belle Plaine Saturday afternoon.

Chanhassen’s playoff magic ran out of steam against the Cardinals.  Justin Thompson pitched a complete game, allowing 4 runs, on 6 hits, 4 Ks, 1 BB and 1 HB.

Fairfax got single runs in the 1^st and 2^nd innings and kept the lead at 2-0 until the top of the 7^th inning.  But, the Red Bird bats were pretty silent for most of the night. 

Josh Gasow – Fairfax Draftee from Gaylord, got the start and pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowing 1 run on 5 hits, getting 6 Ks, allowing 4 BB.  He was relieved by Bryce Rippentrop with one out in the 7^th inning and Red Birds on 2^nd and 3^rd, following Zach Swenson’s double to right that drove in Nate Swenson with the first run. 

Rippentrop then struck out Justin Thompson and Tony Marengo to snuff the threat and leave the Cardinals ahead, 2-1.

In the top of the 8^th, Jeff Pavlovich reached 1^st on an error by the third basemen. (Fairfax committed 5 errors for the game).  He then stole second.  T. J;. Gulden followed with a walk.  Nate Swenson then looped a single to right that scored Pavlovich with the tying run.

In the bottom of the 8^th, RF Austin Black reached 1^st on the lone Red Bird error on a throw from 3^rd baseman, Zach Neubauer.  Rippentrop then lined a single past the glove of Cary McLaughlin at first and Black moved to 3^rd.  with Kevin Erdal at the plate, Rippentrop took second on defensive indifference.  Then Erdal lined a single to left that scored Black from third.  Bergner then threw sharply to the cutoff man, Neubauer, who wheeled and threw a strike to Zach Swenson to nail Rippentrop at home.  Swenson then threw to 2^nd base to try to get Erdal advancing to 2^nd.  The throw sailed into center field and Erdal ended up on 3^rd. 

John Derock then lifted a one out fly ball to left field for the second out and on a controversial play, Erdal scored from third as the throw from Bergner to Swenson was slightly up the line to 1^st.  Fairfax leads, 4-2.

Zach Swenson opened the 9^th inning with a single to right center.  Justin Thompson then hit into a 4-6-3 double play.  Rippentrop then caught Tony Marengo looking for strike three to end the inning, the game and the season for the Red Birds.

The Red Birds sure had their chances, with Fairfax committing 5 infield errors for the game.  The Red Birds also left 13 men on base, and 8 of them in scoring position, including three just 90 feet away at third base.

Chanhassen finished the season with a complete record of 16-15, 9-7 in River Valley League play, 4-4 in Division play, and a 4-4 record in the playoffs.

Mark your calendars – 2012 Red Bird Rally is April 14^th, at the Chanhassen American Legion.

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