17-Year-Old Pitches St. Peter To 3-0 Win Over Fairfax In Town Team Playoffs

By Pat Beck, St. Peter Herald

St. Peter High School junior Andy Regner made a big step up to amateur baseball as a 17-year-old and pitched a complete-game, five-hit shutout in the first round of the Region 6C playoffs.

In his first time going nine innings, Regner led the No. 2 Saints to a 3-0 victory over No. 7 Fairfax on Friday night at Veterans Field.

Regner (2-0) has pitched seven innings a number of times in high school. In amateur ball, his most innings previously were five.

Pitching at the amateur level is tougher than high school, but Regner fits right in with players twice his age. He's the youngest player on the St. Peter roster.

"It's definitely a different ball game seeing bigger guys coming up to the plate and obviously being the youngest on the field," Regner said.

Regner struck out three, walked one and hit one batter. He pitched well with runners on base. Fairfax stranded seven runners.

Regner said he felt good going nine innings.

"I felt my fast ball was still up on velocity and my off-speed (curve ball and change-up) was still there," Regner said. "Take care of that arm, ice it up and hopefully be good to pitch the next time."

Regner said 12-year veteran catcher Billy Hanson calls every pitch. "Just like high school with Jake McCabe, Billy had the game in his hands, and I trust him. I didn't shake him off at all tonight."

Regner took a break from high school pitching and then pitched a few games in Legion baseball and has made three appearances, including two starts, in amateur.

The Saints also fielded well, despite two errors. Center fielder Ty Kaus made the biggest play in the fourth inning. He made a diving catch of a fly ball in right center with two runners on and no out. Left fielder Ryan Kapser also made a good back running catch.

"Even though we had two errors, I still have faith in the defense," Regner said. "I just put the ball into play. We had solid D, and I knew we would get the guys out. It's better than trying to strike out 15 guys."

Kaus also led the Saints at the plate. He led off the first inning off with a stand-up triple to right center and scored on an RBI ground out by Jayme Munsterman.

The Saints scored two more runs in the eighth inning. Munsterman reached on an error. Jovan Rodriguez singled to right, advancing Munsterman to third, and Rodriguez went to second on the throw in from the outfield. Munsterman scored on a sacrifice fly, and Rodriguez went to third and scored when Kapser reached on an error.

The Saints had seven hits. Kaus finished 2 for 3 with a run scored. Jordan Wilmes went 2 for 3 with a double. Munsterman, Kapser and Alex Hoehn, who reached on a bunt single, had the other Saints' hits.

Fairfax and St. Peter split during the regular season with Fairfax winning 5-3 and St. Peter winning 9-6.

"They're a good team," Regner said. "We got some big hits in the first inning, and it was kind of a pitchers' duel from there. It was a fun game battling back and forth."

St. Peter (17-11-1) next hosts the No. 6 Le Sueur Braves (6-14) in the semifinals at 6 p.m. Sunday. The winner earns one of the three trips to state.

Le Sueur beat the No. 3 seeded Henderson Tigers in the first round 9-3. Henderson (7-12) hosts Fairfax (11-13) at 4 p.m. Sunday at Hilltop Park.

In other quarterfinal games, No. 1 Jordan (24-9) beat Arlington (7-17) 10-0 and No. 5 Belle Plaine (13-14) beat No. 4 Gaylord (10-13) 2-1.