Staff photo by Travis Rosenau Sleepy Eye Legion Post 7’s Jackson Huiras applies a tag on a Omaha Gross runner at third base during an Upper Midwest Classic baseball game on Friday at Essig Ballpark.

By Jeff Meder

Journal Sports Writer

ESSIG — Sleepy Eye downed Omaha Gross 11-7 on Friday in the Upper Midwest Classic Baseball Tournament at Essig Ballpark.

In the top of the first inning, Jon Petermann singled to left field. He scored later on a wild pitch to give Sleepy Eye an early 1-0 lead.

The Cougars tied it in the bottom of the first when Luke Bies singled. He scored the game-tying run on Nate Pechar’s double.

Omaha added two more runs in the bottom of the second inning when it got three hits and took advantage of a Sleepy Eye error for a 3-1 lead.

Sleepy Eye’s big inning was in the top of the third inning to jump out to a 7-3 lead. It had six runs on five hits. That ended Omaha Gross starting pitcher Ethan Gillespie’s time on the mound.

Sleepy Eye added two more runs in the top of the fifth inning. Seven batters appeared at the plate, with the team getting two more runs for a 9-3 advantage. Caden Evers singled and Mason Sellner doubled to highlight the inning.

The Cougars appeared to be gaining momentum in the bottom of the fifth inning. They loaded the bases on a walk, a single and and another walk. Sleepy Eye turned an important 6-4-3 double play to end the threat and keep Omaha from scoring again.

Petermann reached on an error in the top of the sixth inning. He scored on another Omaha Gross error. Austin Uecker walked and scored later on the same error that scored Petermann. Sleepy Eye led 11-3.

The Cougars threw a scare into Sleepy Eye in the bottom of the sixth inning. They scored four runs. Bies’ double to left field brought in three runs. Bies scored on a wild pitch, which made it 11-7 for Sleepy Eye.

Brandon Schmitz earned the victory. He pitched six innings, he gave up seven runs (five earned) on six hits, he walked three and he struck out seven batters. Weiss pitched one inning of 1-2-3 relief.

Sellner went 3 for 3 with three RBIs to lead Sleepy Eye, while Jackson Huiras went 3 for 4 with three RBIs. Evers went 2 for 4 with two RBIs also for Sleepy Eye, while Nick Mielke and Petermann each went 2 for 4.

Sleepy Eye had 11 runs, 13 hits and three errors. Omaha Gross had seven runs, six hits and three errors.

Earlier in the day, the Plover Black Sox edged Sleepy Eye 4-3 at Searles. Uecker went 3 for 4 with a double, Evers went 2 for 3 and Jacob Lux had two RBIs. Mielke pitched 5 and 2/3 innings, he gave up three runs (one earned), seven hits he struck out one and he walked three batters.

Huiras took the loss. He pitched 2/3 of an inning, he gave up one unearned run, two hits, he walked one and he struck out two batters.