Class 1A State Baseball Quarterfinals
Alburnett Vs Tri Center
Alburnett 8
Tri Center 6
A quick start and a pair of insurance runs in the 7th helped 6th seed Alburtnett defeat the 3rd seed in Tri Center in the final quarterfinal round game in Class 1A. The Pirates scored twice in the 1st and looked to be in complete control, having out hit the Trojans 6-1 heading into the bottom 4th inning. They benefited from 3 early Trojan errors. Tri Center was a tough out all season and their eight seniors weren’t going to go away quietly. Tri Center scored a pair of runs in the 4th to cut it to 3-2 and then fought back after a 3-run blast in the 5th by Alburnett. Tri Center had bases loaded in the bottom 6th with one out but didn’t score and that would be a key. Alburnett scored a pair of insurance runs top 7th to extend the lead to 8-4. Those runs became key when Tri Center scored a pair of runs to start the bottom 7th, and had a runner on 2nd base with no outs. The win for Alburnett moved them into the semifinal game at Noon on Wednesday against St Albert, who beat Lisbon 9-3 earlier Monday evening.
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Hunter Caves led off the game with a shot to deep centerfield . The triple set up a big inning that was cut short by a double play as the Pirates scored a pair of runs when Reed Stallman drove in Caves and Andrew Ossman, who had been hit-by-pitch. Michael Turner helped dig Tri Center out of trouble when he started a F-9-3 double play to end the inning. Caves set up the Pirates in the 3rd when he doubled with one out and scored on a throwing error to make it 3-0 after 3 innings.
Tri Center had a single in the 2nd and 3rd innings but looked in trouble heading into the 4th, though they only trailed 3-0. They hadn’t had a runner past 1st base and had been out hit 6-1 and had 3 errors. That changed when Trent Kozeal led off the bottom 4th inning with a single. Justice Weers added a single and Kaden McDermott put them on the board with a single with the bases loaded. They trailed 3-2 heading after 4 innings.
The Pirates took the momentum right back in the top 5th. Gavin Soukup singled to start the inning, Andrew Ossman worked a one out walk and both scored when Reed Stallman hit a shot over the scoreboard in right field. The ball sailed around 370 feet. The blast gave Stallman five RBI for the game and put Alburnett ahead 6-2. Tri Center answered in the bottom 5th. Michael Turner and Mason Rohatsch both singled to start the inning. Both scored on a throw that sailed over 3rd base after Alburnett had gotten an out at 1st base. The Pirates held a 6-4 lead heading into the 6th.
The Trojans got out of the top 6th with a nice 6U-6-3 double play, setting up a bottom 6th that may have been the difference. Jaxson Johnson, Kaden McDermott and Ethan Alfers all walked with one out, setting up a key moment. A base hit and the game is tied or Tri Center may have their first lead of the game. Instead Alburnett got a strikeout and a pop up to the 3rd baseman and were out of trouble, giving up no runs.
The 7th inning would get exciting. Alburnett received singles from Gavin Soukup and Hunter Caves, Caves single scored Soukup who had stolen 2nd base. Caves scored on an athletic play at the plate. Tri Center made a play at 1st base, Caves broke towards the plate and the throw beat him home, but photos showed the umpire made a great call as he sidestepped the tag at the plate and was able to touch the plate before being tagged. The Pirates headed to the bottom 7th with an 8-4 lead. Trent Kozeal singled and scored on a double by Brent McGee, who scored on a throwing error by Alburnett on a ground ball to 2nd base. The Trojans were back in the game with a runner at 1st and no outs, trailing by 2. A popup down the first base line, foul was the 1st out. A fly ball to center moved Alburnett within an out of advancing. The Trojans still had the tying run at the plate. A strikeout ended the game and the Pirates survived to play on Wednesday.
The win moves Alburnett to 29-9 as they head to the semifinals against St Albert at Noon on Wednesday. Tri Center season ends at 28-3 with two of their 3 losses coming at Merchants Park this season.
Box Score
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Final
Alburnett 2 0 1 0 3 0 2 8
TC 0 0 0 2 2 0 2 6
