×

Tigers take 3rd at state

Staff photo by Jeremy Behnke Springfield third baseman Dylan Batzlaff throws to second baseman Brendon Buerkle for the out at second base during Wednesday’s Class A state semifinal baseball game against Hayfield at Joe Faber Field in St. Cloud.

ST. CLOUD — Prior to Wednesday’s Class A state semifinal game against Hayfield, the Springfield coaching staff got to scout Hayfield on Tuesday and see what the hype was all about.

On Wednesday, the Tigers saw first hand just how potent the Vikings’ lineup was as they defeated Springfield 16-0 in five innings at Joe Faber Field in St. Cloud.

The Tigers then played Randolph in a third-place game, where they won 16-2 in five innings.

In the first game, the Tigers managed a first-inning double from Brendon Buerkle and didn’t get another hit until the bottom of the fifth when Jason Berberich reached. In between the first and fifth innings, it was all Hayfield as it tallied 12 hits.

Jakob Nachreiner took the loss for the Tigers. He lasted three innings and gave up nine runs on eight hits. He struck out two and walked two.

James Coffland allowed six runs in 1/3 of an inning for the Tigers.

Joey Tempel earned the win for the Vikings. He gave up two hits in five innings and he struck out nine.

The Vikings scored a pair of runs in the second inning thanks to Eric Bungum’s two-run home run.

That set up a seven-run inning in the third inning, an inning that saw the Vikings collect six hits in the process.

Up 9-0 at that point, the Vikings kept their foot on the gas pedal in the fourth inning, scoring seven more runs. This time, they took advantage of four hits and two Springfield errors to go up 16-0.

In the third-place game, the Tigers cruised. Randolph fell in 15 innings to New York Mills right before its matchup with Springfield, and the Tigers took advantage of it by pouncing early of eight runs in the first.

Tori Helget led the Tigers at the plate against Randolph with three hits and three RBIs, while Berberich added three hits and two RBIs and Dylan Batzlaff had two hits and four RBIs. Batzlaff got the win on the mound in five innings, giving up eight hits and a walk for one earned run while striking out five.

The Vikings will next play in the Class A state championship against New York Mills at 10 a.m. on Friday at Target Field. The Tigers end their season with a 20-8 overall record.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper?
   

Starting at $4.38/week.

Subscribe Today