SLEEPY EYE — Sleepy Eye pitcher Avery Stevens proved to be too much for Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart in the first round of the Section 2A playoffs. Each team faced elimination during the first round before being able to play from double elimination from here on out.

Stevens threw seven shutout innings, only giving up two hits with 13 strikeouts for the playoff win the Indians have desperately strived to obtain.

“It is good to be able to get the big win off our back and getting to double elimination where good things will happen,” Sleepy Eye coach Aaron Nesvold said.

BLHS threatened in the top half of the third inning after falling behind with two quick outs. Elijah Stifter walked and moved to third from a single from Stefan Johnson.

Nathan Schultz jammed a ground ball directly back to the pitcher for the final out of the inning. Stevens seemed to find his composure for the rest of the game with the BLHS runners threatening and standing on each side of his shoulders.

“I found out that my fastball wasn’t working as well as I wanted it to today, so I switched to my slider that created more pitches in the zone helping me a lot,” Stevens said on his early innings.

The Indians found their batting in the home half of the third inning, scoring two runs from three hits. Zach Haala hit a sharp single into left and Nathan Walter placed a bunt past the pitcher and well out of reach of the BLHS defense.

“I put the bat out there and the ball hit the bat and went to the right place for us, I was remembering the feeling from the previous game and putting one down first,” Walter said.

Walter later scored when Landon Strong singled to right field and scored both Haala and Walter.

“I have watched from the bench, as a younger kid coming up through junior varsity, and watched us lose first round and how upsetting it is,” Walter said. “Especially on my birthday it’s a very good feeling to win.”

BLHS pitcher Dylan Maiers was able to get help from his defense when short stop Stifter pulled a line drive out of the air, well behind second base, as the ball seemed to be seeking the out-field grass from a line drive hit by Stevens. The hit could have possibly given the Indians another chance at runs with Strong already on the move when the ball was hit.

Stifter had the easy throw to first being able to double up the Indians, still in the third, and prevent any more damage in the Inning.

“It was good to see that Maiers come out and pitch, with the shorter season he was always going on short rest. Maiers had some fire behind his ball, he is the same guy on the mound, it doesn’t matter if there are two guys on or no guys on he is the same guy pitching.” BLHS coach Dylan Glass said.

Both teams threatened in their final plate appearances having runners in scoring position with opposing pitching being able to shut the door and keep the game close.

Walter led the Indians at the plate, going 3 for 3 with three stolen bases. Strong went 2 for 3 with the two RBIs.

BLHS ended its season with a 7-11 overall record.

Sleepy Eye (12-5) advances to meet Springfield (15-3) during the second round of the playoffs at 5 p.m. on Tuesday in Springfield.