Sleepy Eye will make a return trip to a baseball championship game for the fourth time in program history following its 4-1 victory over South Ridge in the Class A semifinals on Friday, June 15 at Chaska Athletic Park.
The No. 2 seed Indians, who were 1-2 in those previous title-game appearances, will face No. 1 Heritage Christian Academy on Saturday, June 16 in Game 1 of the four-game Prep Championship Series.
Junior catcher Nathan Walter and senior center fielder Carter Brinkman were each 2 for 4 for the Indians (18-5), who finished with nine hits. Sleepy Eye manufactured three runs in a decisive third inning by piecing together four hits and taking advantage of an error. Brinkman opened the scoring for the Indians with an RBI double.
Sleepy Eye junior pitcher Jacob Berg surrendered two hits, walked two and struck out 14 in coming within one out of a complete game.
Junior catcher Joey Janke and sophomore pitcher Mason Lane each had a hit for No. 3 South Ridge (20-6).
In Sleepy Eye’s previous three state tournament appearances, it was the Class A runner-up in 1976 and 1990, and the Class A champion in 2000.
Sleepy Eye parlayed a six-run fourth inning into a 6-0 victory over Hinckley-Finlayson in the Game 3 of the Class A quarterfinals on Thursday, June 14 at Chaska Athletic Park. The victory sends the Indians (17-5) into the semifinals on Friday against the winner of the final quarterfinal between South Ridge and Rushford-Peterson.
The Indians earned that berth with six runs on four hits in the fourth inning. Senior pitcher Avery Stevens helped his cause with a two-run single in the inning, and later, junior catcher Nathan Walter had a two-run double.
Stevens tossed a no-hitter in the game that took just 1 hour, 20 minutes to complete. He faced 22 batters, striking out 15 and walking one.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Hinkley/Finlayson
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
Sleepy Eye
0
0
0
6
0
0
X
6
7
0
Lineup
AB
R
H
RBI
BB
SO
Zach Haala
4
1
1
1
0
0
Nathan Walter
4
0
1
2
0
0
Carter Brinkman
3
1
1
0
1
0
Landon Strong
3
1
2
0
0
0
Avery Stevens
3
0
1
1
0
1
Jacob Berg
2
1
0
0
1
2
Kyle Domeier
1
0
0
0
1
1
Luke Mielke
3
1
1
1
0
1
Paco Eliserio
0
0
0
0
0
0
Parker Neid
3
0
0
0
0
1
Palmer Hittesdorf
0
1
0
0
0
0
Totals
26
6
7
5
3
6
2B: Luke Mielke, Nathan Walter TB: Carter Brinkman, Zach Haala, Luke Mielke 2, Avery Stevens, Landon Strong 2, Nathan Walter 2 RBI: Zach Haala, Luke Mielke, Avery Stevens, Nathan Walter 2 SAC: Kyle Domeier ROE: Luke Mielke, Parker Neid FC: Nathan Walter
Team QAB: 16 (53.33%)
Jacob Berg 3, Carter Brinkman 3, Kyle Domeier 3, Zach Haala, Luke Mielke, Avery Stevens 2, Landon Strong 2, Nathan Walter
2018 MSHSL Class A Baseball Tournament
Hinckley-Finlayson vs Sleepy Eye
Jun 14, 2018 at Chaska, Minn. (Chaska Athletic Park)
Hinckley-Finlayson 0 (14-5)
Player
ab
r
h
rbi
Perrotti, Jacob ss
3
0
0
0
Bridenstine, Adam 2b
3
0
0
0
Johnson, Trevor c
3
0
0
0
Dunkley, Chayne 1b
3
0
0
0
Visser, Travis p
2
0
0
0
Stafne, Ryan 3b
2
0
0
0
Rensvold, Jacob cf
1
0
0
0
Allerman, Ethan lf
2
0
0
0
Kohl, Chad rf
2
0
0
0
Totals
21
0
0
0
Sleepy Eye 6 (17-5)
Player
ab
r
h
rbi
Haala, Zach ss
4
1
1
1
Walter, Nathan c
4
0
1
2
Brinkman, Carter cf
3
1
1
0
Strong, Landon rf
3
1
1
0
Stevens, Avery p
3
0
1
2
Hittesdorf, Palmer pr
0
1
0
0
Berg, Jacob 1b
2
1
0
0
Domeier, Kyle 2b
1
0
0
0
Mielke, Luke 3b
3
1
1
1
Eliserio, Paco pr
0
0
0
0
Neid, Parker lf
3
0
0
0
Totals
26
6
6
6
Score by Innings R H E
-----------------------------------------
Hinckley-Finlayson.. 000 000 0 - 0 0 4
Sleepy Eye.......... 000 600 X - 6 6 0
-----------------------------------------
Inherited runners/scored: None.Strikeouts – Perrotti, J. 2; BridenstineA 2; Johnson, T. 2; Dunkley, C. 2; Visser, T.; Stafne, R.; Rensvold, J.; Allerman, E. 2; Kohl, C. 2; Stevens, A.; Berg, J. 2; Domeier, K.; Mielke, L.; Neid, P.. Walks – Rensvold, J.; Brinkman, C.; Berg, J.; Domeier, K..
Umpires – HP: Dwayne Borg 1B: Matthew Prunty 2B: Rick Wellman
Start: 4:10 pm Time: 1:20 Attendance:
Box Score
2018 MSHSL Class A Baseball Tournament
Hinckley-Finlayson vs Sleepy Eye
Jun 14, 2018 at Chaska, Minn. (Chaska Athletic Park)
Hinckley-Finlayson 0 (14-5)
Player
ab
r
h
rbi
bb
so
po
a
lob
Perrotti, Jacob ss
3
0
0
0
0
2
0
1
1
Bridenstine, Adam 2b
3
0
0
0
0
2
2
1
0
Johnson, Trevor c
3
0
0
0
0
2
7
0
0
Dunkley, Chayne 1b
3
0
0
0
0
2
4
0
0
Visser, Travis p
2
0
0
0
0
1
0
2
0
Stafne, Ryan 3b
2
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
Rensvold, Jacob cf
1
0
0
0
1
1
3
0
0
Allerman, Ethan lf
2
0
0
0
0
2
1
0
0
Kohl, Chad rf
2
0
0
0
0
2
1
0
0
Totals
21
0
0
0
1
15
18
5
1
Sleepy Eye 6 (17-5)
Player
ab
r
h
rbi
bb
so
po
a
lob
Haala, Zach ss
4
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
Walter, Nathan c
4
0
1
2
0
0
14
2
0
Brinkman, Carter cf
3
1
1
0
1
0
0
0
4
Strong, Landon rf
3
1
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
Stevens, Avery p
3
0
1
2
0
1
0
4
2
Hittesdorf, Palmer pr
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Berg, Jacob 1b
2
1
0
0
1
2
6
0
0
Domeier, Kyle 2b
1
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
Mielke, Luke 3b
3
1
1
1
0
1
0
0
0
Eliserio, Paco pr
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Neid, Parker lf
3
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
Totals
26
6
6
6
3
6
21
6
6
Score by Innings R H E
-----------------------------------------
Hinckley-Finlayson.. 000 000 0 - 0 0 4
Sleepy Eye.......... 000 600 X - 6 6 0
-----------------------------------------
Hinckley-Finlayson 1st – Perrotti, J. struck out, out at first c to 1b. BridenstineA struck out. Johnson, T. struck out. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Sleepy Eye 1st – Haala, Z. grounded out to p, bunt. Walter, N. grounded out to 2b. Brinkman, C. singled. Strong, L. reached on an error by 2b; Brinkman, C. advanced to second. Stevens, A. flied out to rf. 0 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, 2 LOB.
Hinckley-Finlayson 2nd – Dunkley, C. struck out. Visser, T. struck out. Stafne, R. grounded out to c. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Sleepy Eye 2nd – Berg, J. struck out. Domeier, K. struck out. Mielke, L. struck out looking. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Hinckley-Finlayson 3rd – Rensvold, J. struck out. Allerman, E. struck out looking. Kohl, C. struck out. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Sleepy Eye 3rd – Neid, P. grounded out to 3b, bunt. Haala, Z. flied out to cf. Walter, N. flied out to cf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Hinckley-Finlayson 4th – Perrotti, J. struck out looking. BridenstineA struck out looking. Johnson, T. grounded out to p. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Sleepy Eye 4th – Brinkman, C. walked. Strong, L. singled; Brinkman, C. advanced to third. Stevens, A. singled, advanced to second on an error by rf, 2 RBI; Strong, L. advanced to third, scored on an error by rf, unearned; Brinkman, C. scored. Hittesdorf P pinch ran for Stevens, A.. Berg, J. walked. Domeier, K. grounded out to p, SAC, bunt; Berg, J. advanced to second; Hittesdorf P advanced to third. Mielke, L. reached on an error by 3b, RBI; Berg, J. advanced to third; Hittesdorf P scored. Neid, P. struck out. Haala, Z. singled, RBI; Mielke, L. advanced to second; Berg, J. scored. Walter, N. doubled, 2 RBI; Haala, Z. scored, unearned; Mielke, L. scored, unearned. Brinkman, C. flied out to lf. 6 runs, 4 hits, 2 errors, 1 LOB.
Hinckley-Finlayson 5th – Stevens, A. to p for Hittesdorf P. Dunkley, C. struck out. Visser, T. grounded out to p. Stafne, R. struck out. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Sleepy Eye 5th – Strong, L. popped up to 2b. Stevens, A. struck out. Berg, J. struck out. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Hinckley-Finlayson 6th – Rensvold, J. walked. Allerman, E. struck out. Kohl, C. struck out looking. Perrotti, J. grounded out to p. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Sleepy Eye 6th – Domeier, K. walked. Mielke, L. doubled; Domeier, K. advanced to third. Eliserio, P. pinch ran for Mielke, L.. Neid, P. reached on an error by ss. Haala, Z. popped up to 2b. Walter, N. reached on a fielder’s choice; Neid, P. advanced to second; Eliserio, P. advanced to third; Domeier, K. out at home ss to c. Brinkman, C. flied out to cf. 0 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, 3 LOB.
Hinckley-Finlayson 7th – Mielke, L. to 3b for Eliserio, P.. BridenstineA flied out to rf. Johnson, T. struck out. Dunkley, C. grounded out to p. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
The Sleepy Eye United golf team tied with Mounds Park Academy for the Class A state championship. Ben Laffen won the individual title as well, beating out his closet opponent by just one stroke.
The Sleepy Eye Boys Golf team dominated the field, winning the Section 2A championship by 50 strokes to advance to the state golf meet. This is the third consecutive section title the team has earned. The team placed third last year at the elite state competition and fourth in 2016.
Ben Laffen finished second overall in sections just one stroke off the winner’s pace.
2B: Landon Strong TB: Avery Stevens, Landon Strong 3 RBI: Landon Strong 3, Nathan Walter SAC: Carter Brinkman, Nathan Walter ROE: Parker Neid, Nathan Walter 2 FC: Carter Brinkman GIDP: Carter Brinkman PIK: Parker Neid
Team QAB: 17 (51.52%)
Jacob Berg, Carter Brinkman 3, Kyle Domeier, Zach Haala 4, Parker Neid 2, Avery Stevens 2, Landon Strong 2, Nathan Walter 2