St. Peter Town Team Reaches State for First Time Since 2017
Posted August 12, 2024
ARLINGTON, Minn. – For the first time in seven years, the St. Peter town team is going to the state tournament. The local nine on Saturday shut out St. Clair 5-0 in the Region 6C tournament to clinch a state berth for the first time since 2017.
Josh Robb was the story of the game, pitching a complete game, two-hit shutout. St. Clair had its biggest threat of the game in the first inning after a double and two walks loaded the bases with two outs, but Robb got a strikeout looking to end the frame. Robb went on to retire 17 straight batters before giving up just the second hit of the game in the seventh.
The Saints did all of their damage in the first two frames. Sam Wenner led off the first with a double. Two batters later, Robb walked followed by consecutive RBI singles by Nick Azar and Hunter Wilmes. Austin Pinke hit another single to load the bases and Jeff Menk came through with a two-run single to go up 4-0.
In the second inning, Tyson Sowder led off with a single, stole second, went to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a single by Cody Booker for what proved to be the final run of the game.
After the win, St. Peter had to immediately turn around and play Waterville for the Nos. 3-4 seeding game. Waterville had three big innings and captured a 13-5 win. The Saints hit well at the plate with 12 hits, but stranded 15 runners on base. CJ Siewert led the offensive effort, batting 4-for-4 with a run. Robb and Logan Carlson contributed two hits each.
St. Peter opens the 2024 Minnesota Class C State Tournament at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Belle Plaine against Union Hill, who is the No. 2 seed out of Region 3. The winner will face Region 9 champion Clinton at 4 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 25 in Belle Plaine.
