Faribault Lakers One Win Away From Region Play

The Faribault Lakers got a little help from the baseball fairies on their way to a 16-6 seven inning win over the Webster Sox Tuesday night at Bell Field.  The Sox were the home team in the first round of their DRS League playoff series but couldn't find a lighted field to host the game so they agreed to play the game in Faribault.

Webster took an early 3-0 lead in the first inning thanks to some Laker fielding mistakes and each time Faribault would come back the Sox would have an answer until the 7th inning.  The Lakers erupted to score 11 runs and take the lead.  It appeared the big inning just took the life right out of their opponent.

Faribault pitcher Jack Helgeson struck out the side in the bottom of the seventh inning and the Lakers had a playoff opening early finish by the 10 run rule.  Helgeson allowed 5 hits and just two earned runs in the game.  Two Laker errors led to some Webster runs.  Helgeson struck out six and walked two and threw 100 pitches over the seven innings 72 for strikes.

The Lakers used some small ball and were aggressive on the base paths with four stolen bases in the game.  Two by Blake Langerud at the top of the order.  Langerud also had a pair of hits and an RBI.  Ryan Archambault had two hits and 3 RBI but his bases loaded walk is what gave Faribault a lead they would not relinquish.  Archambault had a double, one of the three extra base hits for the Lakers.

Joe Grote added a pair of hits including a triple and 3 RBI.  Faribault had 13 hits in the game.  Others with multiple hits included Porter Sartor with two hits and a RBI and Adam Kline with two hits and an RBI.  Dylan Valentyn continued to crush the ball with a solid double to left and added a sacrifice fly for a total of 3 RBI.

Webster pitcher Jeremy Wieland had a 6-5 lead going into the 7th before the hit barrage aided by some unfortunate bounces of the baseball led to the Laker splash.  There were three Sox pitchers used to get out of the inning.  Wieland went 6 2/3 innings with 10 hit allowed, 14 runs, 6 earned.  He struck out two and walked 5, hit two batters and threw 120 pitches 75 for strikes.

The two teams play again Thursday at Bell Field in Faribault with the Lakers the home team.  If Faribault wins they advance to Region 3C and start play on Sunday.  If Webster wins they play again Friday night.  Both start times are 7:30 p.m.

The other DRS League Playoff finals all went to the better seed also.  #5 Montgomery rolled by Lonsdale 11-1 in 7 innings, St. Benedict edged Veseli 7-6 and Prior Lake edged Shakopee 3-2.