The Faribault Lakers were defeated 6-2 by the Green Isle Irish in the second round of the State Amateur Baseball Tournament.

The Irish were clearly focused to face Faribnault ace Matt Lane. Irish lead-off hitter Zach Herd set the tone with a two-strike single in Green Isle's first at-bat of the evening. With  one out in that first, pitcher Mac Zackow hit a smash at the feet of the second baseman. A tough error was ruled on what could've been a double play ball that would've allowed no runs in the first. The ball was hammered right at his feet. Lane then hit the No. 4 hitter on an 0-2 count (although he clearly stuck his leg out to get hit). Brian Schershlit then hit a 0-1 pitch down the right field line for a 2 RBI double and the Irish jumped in front. Lane struck out the next two battters to keep the damage to two runs.

In the bottom of the second, Faribault scored their only runs of the game. With one out, Jack Helgeson had a single up the middle; Evan Jensen had basically a swinging bunt that Zackow couldn't field and an error was ruled. Dylan Valentyn hammered a 1-2 pitch to third and another error was charged. No. 9 hitter Adam Kline worked the count to 2-2 and then cracked a 2 RBI single and the Lakers tied the game.

Matt Lane retired seven consecutive batters, five via strikeout, and it looked like he had settled into the game. With two outs in the third inning, cleanup hitter Alex Twenge swung at the first pitch he saw and had a single and then the next two batters collected singles. Ben Alexander's hit plated Twenge and Green Isle was back in the lead.

The Irish would add another run in the fifth. With one out, Alexander crushed a double and then scored on the RBI single by Axel Twenge.

The Lakers had their chances finishing the game with 10 hits. They left 12 runners on base, eight in scoring position. Faribault led the fourth inning off with a walk by Helgeson and a single by Evan Jensen but then Zackow toughened up just as he did against Wanamingo last weekend and got the next three batters out on two fly outs and a ground out. Faribault had a lead-off single in the sixth by Evan Jensen but Valentyn could not get a good bunt down; Jensen was retired at second. Kline had another hit and then the top two batters in the Faribault order flew out to center field. The Lakers had at least one hit in all but two innings and tallied two hits in three of the nine innings.

Green Isle added two runs in the eighth, but believe me I'm sure they didn't forget last year's incredible comeback by the Lakers and didn't feel totally comfy with their lead. The Irish scored after a one-out single by Axel Twenge. No. 9 hitter Ryan Evenson got his second hit of the game with two outs and then there was an error by Faribault before Lucas Herd had a single.

Before the eighth inning unearned runs being recorded, Lane had retired eight straight batters to keep the Lakers in the game. He finished the night with nine strikeouts and one walk as well as the hit batter. Lane was lifted with two outs in the ninth after throwing 153 pitches, 106 for strikes. He was 25 of 42 first-pitch strikes.

Rick Bell, the draftee from Union Hill, came in and gave up a two-strike single to Axel Twenge, and it looked like a run would score from second and Helgeson threw a one-hop throw from center to get the runner and keep it a 6-2 game.

There was no magic for the Lakers in this state tournament. A season ago they were down 8-0 and came from behind to beat Green Isle 9-8. The Irish finished the game with 14 hits and left 10 runners on base, seven in scoring position.

Zackow was pulled after going the first seven innings. He fanned three and walked one. The key I felt was getting ahead of the Faribault hitters. He was 26 of 32 first-pitch strikes. The crafty veteran left the game after throwing 118 pitches, 81 were strikes. Zackow went to first and Alex Twenge finished out the game with four strikeouts of the nine men he faced. He hit a batter and allowed just two hits.

Helgeson's throw from center was the Chappuis Jewelers Gem Play of the Game and Adam Kline was named the State Farm Tony Langerud player of the game due to his three-hit night and collection of the only Faribault RBIs on the night.

The Lakers finished their season 24-11 but have nothing to hang their heads over. Sometimes it's the luck of the draw and Green Isle was clearly locked in at the plate. The Irish play at 7:30PM next Saturday in Watkins.

Dundas is coming back next weekend in the Class B winner's bracket.  Back in Class C, Owatonna was beaten by Blue Earth 4-3; Cannon Falls bested Bertha 2-1 with another vintage Keith Meyers performance. He struck out eight and walked one, as well as hitting a batter while scattering six hits. Meyers threw 133 pitches, 93 for strikes.

Cannon Falls scored their two runs in the fifth inning when Brock Peterson led the inning off with a single and was sacrificed to second by Keith Meyers. Ageless Rich Burr then smacked a single and Taylor Pagel followed it up with a 2-RBI single. Bertha manufactured their only run of the game in the seventh inning.

The Bears play Saturday at 11AM in Cold Spring against the winner of Sunday's game between (15-13) Forth Ripley and (22-4 ) Luverne. KDHL has St. Olaf football and Power 96 the Carleton football opener on Saturday.  If Cannon Falls wins Saturday they would play at 11AM Sunday in Watkins in the semis.

Lakers fall to Green Isle 6-2
Lakers fall to Green Isle 6-2
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