Saints close out regular season with 9-7 win at Henderson, host Chanhassen Friday for playoffs
Posted July 28, 2013
By CJ Siewert
The St. Peter town team capped its regular season schedule with a slug-fest victory, 9-7, at Henderson on Sunday afternoon. The Saints out-hit the Tigers 17-to-15, marking the most hits in a game by the local nine this season.
Region 6C playoffs begin Friday for the Saints. As the River Valley League West’s No. 2 seed, they will play host to the RVL Central’s No. 3 seed, Chanhassen. First pitch at Veterans Field is slated for 7:30 p.m. The region bracket consists of eight teams in a double-elimination format. The top three teams out of the region will advance to the State Tournament.
On Sunday, the host Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a walk, single and sacrifice fly off Saints’ starter Jeremy Braun. St. Peter tied the game at 1-1 in the third after Billy Hanson, Jesse Munsterman and Jeff Menk all singled. Matt Knutson started the fourth inning with a single and scored on an Andy Schroeder base hit three batters later for a 2-1 lead.
Henderson tagged Braun for three runs in the fifth inning on a double, three singles and an error to regain the lead at 4-2. Braun exited the game after the fifth, finishing with a no decision. He allowed three earned runs on eight hits, including four strikeouts and a walk.
Jesse Anderson relieved Braun for the sixth and gave up one run on a double and single after his first four batters faced. The STP offense picked it back up in the seventh, though, adding four runs for a 6-5 advantage.
Jesse Munsterman was beaned, stole second and third, followed by a walk to Seth Wenner. Jeff Menk reached on an error, while Munsterman scored and Wenner moved to second. Jordan Wilmes then hit an RBI single backed by another single by Knutson to put runners on first and third. Cody Weingartz knocked in Wilmes with a grounder to second and CJ Siewert moved Knutson to third with a base hit. Schroeder responded with an RBI single for the fourth run of the inning.
The Saints added three insurance runs in the ninth for a 9-5 lead. With two outs, Siewert walked, followed by three-straight hits from Schroeder, Hanson and Munsterman.
Henderson threatened in the bottom half with three singles, paired with a defensive error to score two runs, but the game-tying run was stranded on second with a grounder to first.
Anderson earned the win after four innings of relief. He allowed one earned run on seven hits with two Ks.
Schroeder and Hanson led the Saints at the plate, both going 3-for-6. Siewert, Munsterman, Wilmes, Menk and Knuston all had two hits each.
Photo: Billy Hanson beats the throw home for the Saints' first run in the third inning. Hanson led the team at the plate, going 3-for-6 with two runs and an RBI.
