The Red Birds traveled to Elko Field for a Friday night Playoff game against the New Market Muskies and came away with a disappopinting loss by 7-6, giving up the game winning run in the bottom of the 9th inning.

The Red Birds scored in the opening inning on singles by starting pitcher Adam Heitz and DH Cary McLaughlin and a two run double to right center by the Red Birds draftee from the Waconia Lakers, C Jeremy Salden. 

Salden drove in the 3rd run for the Red Birds in the 3rd inning with another smash to right center that scored McLaughlin who had singled to center to open the inning.

For the game, McLaughlin was 2-3 with 2 BBs, and scored 3 runs.  Salden was 2-3 with a walk and 3 RBIs.

The Red Birds trailed 5-3 entering the 8th inning, but with one out, Jeff Pavlovich singled to center.  Mclaughlin and Salden each walked to load the bases.  Tony Marengo then hit a grounder to 2nd and the flip to SS got Salden at second and drove in Pavlovich from 3rd.  But the relay throw to 1b was off target and went into the dugout which plated McLaughlin with the tying run, moving Marengo to 2nd.  Neubauer then flied out to RF to end the threat with Marengo in scoring position.

In the bottom of the 8th, the Muskies opened with a single to center by DH Kurt Ploog.  SS Scotty Lyden sacrificed Ploog to 2nd.  A single up the middle couldn't score Ploog, but RF Tom Carpentier singled to deep left center to drive in Ploog from 3rd and give the MUskies a 6-5 lead.  A pop out and grounder, both to SS Newbauer ended the inning with the Red Birds trailing by one run.

In the top of the 9th the Red Birds managed to score the tying run without a hit.   Reliever and winning pitcher, Scotty Lyden took over on the mound for starter Derek Bergstrom.  John Gulden stuck out swinging, but the ball skittered away from the C Erik Bezak, the Muskies playoff pickup from the Union Hill Bulldogs.  His throw to 1st pulled 1B Kyle Bergstrom off the base so Gulden was safe at 1st. 

Zach Swenson then put down a good bunt to 3B Luke Hanzel but his throw to 1st was off target and Swenson was safe, and Gulden advanced to 3rd on the error.  After Malmgren struck out for the 2nd K of the inning, but just the first out, Adam Heitz lifted a fly ball out to left field that scored Gulden from third to tie the game.   Pavlovich then launched a sky high pop up in the infield that the pitcher bobbled and resulted in Swenson at 2nd and Pavlovich at 1st.

McLaughlin stepped to the plate having reached in all four plate appearances and scoring 3 runs.  Lyden got McLaughlin on a swinging third strike to end the Red Birds rally with the score tied at 6-6.

In the bottom of the 9th, LF Tyler Bergstrom singled to right field. Kyle Bergstrom bunted to sacrifice Tyler to 2nd.  C Bezak then drove a single that landed just inside the right field line for the GWRBI that dashed the hopes of the Chanhassen faithful that filled the stands in Elko.

Adam Heitz opened on the mound for the Red Birds and worked 6 innings, giving up 2 runs, on 5 hits and no BBs and getting 4 Muskies on Ks.  Mat Peot, playoff draftee from the Henderson Tigers, relieved Heitz in the 7th and worked the final 3 innings to take the loss, allowing 5 runs, only 2 of them earned, on 7 hits and 2 BBs while getting 1 K.

With the win, New Market plays at the Winthrop Eagles (who lost to Belle Plaine) on Sunday afternoon at 2:00 PM

The Red Birds earn a home game against the lower seeded St. Benedict Saints (who lost to St. Peter) at Chanhassen Red Bird Stadium on Sunday afternoon, August 8th with a 2:00 PM Start.  The winner then advances to the next game in the 6 C tourney on Wednesday, August 11th.