It means Sleepy Eye is in the state semifinals and assured of two games at St. Cloud’s Municipal Stadium Thursday and Friday.

Sleepy Eye (17-3) will meet St. Cloud Cathedral (17-5) 1 p.m. Thursday at St. Cloud. Cathedral downed Audubon 3-1 Monday in another quarterfinal contest.

If Sleepy Eye wins over Cathedral, it would vie in the Class “A” championship game 7 p.m. Friday. A Thursday loss would mean playing in the third place game 1 p.m. Friday.

GREG COOK, freshman third baseman, was the eighth inning hero.

Right: “We won,” exclaims Sleepy Eye player Phil Johnson.

“He really socked the ball,” said Coach Don Boelter of Cook’s triple over the centerfielder’s head.

Arlington came up with another strategy move, but this time the string pulling of Coach Larry Klunder didn’t work for the Indians. Catcher Greg Odegaard became pitcher for the second time in the game. His first pitch to batter Tom Riebel was low and got away from catcher Dan Hermann.

The ball rolled near the grand stand and Cook was sent home by coach Boelter. Cook slid in safely before a tag could be made and the game was over.

IT WAS a bitter ending for the Indians who battled back twice from deficits to lead or tie the score.

Neither team was as sharp defensively on in pitching as marked in play the past few weeks, but spectators got their money’s worth in excitement and pressure plays. An unusual number of close plays led to numerous controversies with umpires; the more the coaches argued, the more the fans screamed. It was a donnybrook.

Sleepy Eye pounded out 10 hits in the first five innings but then went stale at the plate until Cook’s triple.

Arlington went ahead 3-2 in the third with three runs but Sleepy Eye got a trio of runners home in the fifth to lead 5-3.

Dean Deibele, out of the game for two innings for treatment of a head wound, returned as a pinchhitter on the reentry rule and singled home the lead run. His return seemed to boost the Sleepy Eye spirits tremendously.

IN THE seventh, it appeared Sleepy Eye was about to win 5-3. After a single and walk off Phil Johnson, Boelter summoned Deibele back to the mound. A two-out foul popup was dropped for a crucial error. Dan Hermann made the Indians pay dearly for the error by doubling deep to left field for two runs, deadlocking the score. That was all of Deibele, though,and he finished strong to get the win.

Al Riederer had two doubles in four trip. Phil Johnson was 2-3, Deibele 2-3 with a double and Cook 2-3.

For Arlington, Odegaard batted 3-4 while Hermann and Kim Glieden each had two RBIs.

Arlington used three pitchers and Sleepy Eye two with both teams juggling pitchers back and forth. The Indians finished 16-5.

Sleepy Eye’s starting lineup: Al Riederer, lf; Brian Augustin, 2b; Phil Johnson, ss; Dean Deibele,p; Brad Augustin, rf; Randy Reinarts,c; Greg Cook, 3b; Tom Riebel,cf; Bruce Kuelbs, lb, with Brian Mathiowetz as designated hitter (DH) for Kuelbs.

Arlington 003 000 20-5 8 3

Sleepy Eye 110 030 01-6 11 3

Weber, J. Herd (5), D. Odegard (7), Herd (8), Odegaard (8) and Odegaard,Hermann (7), Odegaard (8); Hermann (8); Deibele, Johnson (4),Deibele (7) and Reinarts.

New Ulm Daily Journal

June 8, 1976