The Chanhassen Red Birds started the final three game stretch of their regular season with a hard fought victory over the visiting St. Peter Saints by a score of 4-3 on Thursday night.

Red Birds entered the bottom of the 9^th with the game tied.  Zach Swenson opened the 9^th with a double down the third base line (his second double of the game).  Mike Cerjance then ran for Zach.  Nate Swenson flied to deep center, and Casey Malmgren was hit by a pitch from SP Jordan Seebach.  Jeff Pavlovich then lined a grounder under the 2^nd baseman for a hit to load the bases.  With one out, T.J. Gulden lifted a pop fly to right that wasn’t quite deep enough to score Cerjance from third (if you were gauging distance), but the RF bobbled the ball, it fell off his glove into foul territory and Cerjance trotted across home plate to score the winning run.

Justin Kurth started the game for the Red Birds and went 7 innings, allowing 3 runs, on 5 hits, and the Red Birds played flawless defense.  Adam Johnson entered the game in relief in the top of the 8^th and mowed down the five batters he faced.

 In a gutsy, and strategic move, with 2 out in the top of the ninth, Mgr. Kyle Kemble walked to the mound, took the ball out of Johnson’s hand and brought in John Eischens to face right handed batter, DH, Ben Mickelson for the Saints.  The move was gutsy because Adam was throwing very well.  But, lefty against righty isn’t the best odds, so Righty against righty is a little better for the pitcher.  Additionally, Eischens needed to notch a fourth game in order to be ready for a state tournament berth, if that was a possibility.

Eischens threw 9 warm up pitches, and Ben Mickelson stepped to the plate.  Eischens wound up and delivered a pitch on the outside corner that Mickelson promptly popped up to 1^st baseman, Zach Swenson for the third out.  That made Eischens the pitcher of record.

Then the heroics in the bottom of the ninth, and Eischens got the win with a “Single Pitch”.  Perhaps the easiest win in his career!  It’s important to be ready, and John was that, for sure!

The Saints opened the scoring in the top of the first on a double followed by a single.  But Kurth bore down and retired 15 of the next 16 batters.

The Red Birds got two runs in the bottom of the 2^nd to take the lead.  Shawn Riesgraf opened with a single to left.  Justin Thompson followed with a hit-by-pitch.  Kurt Jantscher singled up the middle to load the bases with nobody out.

Zach Swenson then doubled down the right field line to score Riesgraf and Thompson. Red Birds ahead 2-1.

In the bottom of the 5^th, Nate Swenson opened the inning with a single.  Moved to second on a good bunt by Malmgren; then stole third base on a very close play. Pavlovich then delivered the first of his three straight singles to score Swenson from third.  Two fly outs ended the threat.  Red Birds lead 3-1.

In the top of the 7^th, 3B Shea Rochkasse doubled for St. Peter. Ryan Wenner walked.  Mike Enz sacrifice bunted them both up one base.  Ben Mickelson grounded short to first and Rochkasse scored, Wenner moved to third.   With 2 outs, Jeff Menk then singled to left to plate Wenner and tie the score at 3 – 3.

That set up the 9^th innings drama that produced the Red Birds victory.

The evening was a special celebration commemorating the life and service to the Community by Mr. Chanhassen, Al Klingelhutz.  Most of his children and grandchildren were on hand to witness the ceremonial first pitch thrown by his wife of 59 years, Mary Jane.  To a rousing welcome, Mary Jane threw a solid strike, and then in typical Mary Jane manner, proceeded to pray for a Red Bird victory.

The Chanhassen Historical Society provided volunteers to help at the game for the third straight year.

Next Game; Tomorrow (Friday) night at Belle Plaine at 7:30 PM.  A victory over the Tigers is needed to get the #2 seed behind Jordan in the Section 6 C playoffs that begin next week.

Watch this website for information on playoff schedule.

Full stats on the game at SCHEDULE button on the left.