“Our junior legion set the tone last weekend when they won [the Junior Upper Midwest Classic],” Sleepy Eye’s Tyler Mathioewtz said. “They brought that same energy, and we wanted it a lot today. We came out, Merrick [Mathiowetz] started the game really well. We put the ball into play and we got the two runs that we needed, and that’s what won us the game.”

Merrick Mathiowetz was the winning pitcher, striking out three and allowing one run on two hits and four walks in four innings. Tyler Mathiowetz earned the save, striking out three and allowing no runs on one hit and no walks in three innings. At the plate, Tyler Mathiowetz was 2 for 3 with a run scored, while Kayden Klein had a hit and an RBI.

Tyler Mathiwoetz singled to lead off the bottom of the first for Sleepy Eye, then Adam Braulick and Carson Uecker both drew walks to load the bases. Klein singled to drive home the first run, then Landry Folkens’s sacrifice fly brought home Braulick for a 2-0 lead.

National scored its run in the third inning, with Mason Schreiber hitting an RBI triple to make it a 2-1 game. Mankato threatened to score again in the fourth, loading the bases, but a groundout to Folkens at second ended the threat.

Staff photo by Ari Selvey Sleepy Eye's Landry Folkens fields a ball during an Upper Midwest Classic legion baseball game against Mankato National Thursday at Johnson Park.

“Holding each other accountable and being ready for that next play, because you never know what can happen,” Tyler Mathiowetz said. “We showed it, because we made the plays when we needed to. Merrick shut the door when he needed to, he got the bases loaded and got out of it. Our defense was a major part in that.”

Tyler Mathiowetz took to the mound for the rest of the game, surrendering his single hit in the fifth but not allowing another National baserunner for the rest of the game as Sleepy Eye came away with the win.

Post 7 now takes on West Fargo Vets Friday at 1:30 p.m. at Mueller Park in its second game of the tournament.

“Staying focused and staying high,” Tyler Mathiowetz said. “There can be a lot of ups and downs in this game. You just have to stay up. You have to make sure you stay level-headed. You never know who’s going to come through.”