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RUTHTON - Sleepy Eye Junior Legion captured a trip to the DII Junior Legion State Tournament with a 6-1 victory over Springfield in the Southwest DII Junior Legion Sub-State Baseball Tournament on Monday, where they will get another chance at a state title.
"Last year, making the state tournament, we felt like we had some unfinished business there," Sleepy Eye head coach Brandon Streich said. "We played well, just didn't shake out in our favor. We went into the season with the goal. We said we were going to make the state tournament, and we will do everything we can to do that. So far, we've played on a chip on our shoulder all year long, and you've seen it come full circle. Making the state tournament in and of itself is an accomplishment."
Sleepy Eye's Derek Wales is excited for the opportunity to make a run at the state championship.
"I think last year we had a little bit of a bad game starting out," he said. "It means a lot to get back and have another chance this year. We'll see how it goes."
Landry Folkens got the win for Sleepy Eye, striking out nine and allowing one run on five hits in 6 1/3 innings. At the plate, Derek Wales was 3 for 3 with three RBIs and a run scored, while Jaxon Saenz had two hits and two runs scored. Tyler Sellner added a hit, an RBI and a run scored.
Ely Streich took the loss for Springfield, striking out four and allowing four runs, three earned, on four hits and 3 1/3 innings. At the plate, Madden Lendt was 2 for 4 with a home run.
Sleepy Eye opened the scoring in the second inning, with Saenz tripling, then Lozano and Sellner both being hit by pitches. Wales capitalized on the bases-loaded opportunity with a single to score two runs before Eli Streich got out the inning with a strikeout and a fly out.
"It’s fun," Wales said. "We have a great group of guys. Even if you have a bad day, there's always someone that can pick you back up. If you're having a good day, they help you keep going."
Post 7 added another run in the third inning, with Saenz putting an error into play to bring home Merrick Mathiowetz for a 3-0 lead. Sleepy Eye loaded up the bases again in the fourth inning, with Wales drawing a walk, Karter Haala singling and Adam Braulick drawing another walk. Wales scored on a wild pitch, and Mathiowetz was intentionally walked to load the bases again.
But the Springfield defense capitalized on the decision by getting out of the inning without further damage, taking a fielder's choice home to stop a run and taking a flyout to end the inning. Sellner and Wales both earned RBI singles to make it a 6-0 game in the fifth inning.
"I think it was taking the game frame by frame," coach Streich said. "Go inning by inning and try to win each inning. We did that. First inning we exchanged zeros, but the second, third, fourth innings we all put one on the board. If you're winning innings with that mindset, you're going to come out victorious more times than not."
Lendt hit a solo home run in the sixth inning to put Springfield on the scoreboard, but Springfield was unable to take the momentum, however, leaving the inning without another run. Wyatt Mueller drew a walk and Leyton Anderson doubled to put runners at second and third in the top of the seventh inning for Springfield, but Wales, who took to the mound in the seventh, struck out the next two batters to close out the inning and clinch the win.
"It means everything honestly," Saenz said. "It's just a great opportunity."
Sleepy Eye will open the state tournament on Friday, Aug. 7 at Parkers Prairie. After falling short of a state title last year, Sleepy Eye has its eyes set on hoisting the trophy.
"We're looking at the bigger picture here," coach Streich said. "We want to win the whole thing ... There's going to be eight teams at the state tournament, and they're all going to be very good teams. But we're going to have to do what we've done all year, maybe with a little more urgency. We're going to get good pitching, good defense, and have timely hitting. Hopefully we can come out on top using the same mentality that we have all year."
In order to do that, Wales believes the pitching staff will have to continue the excellence that it's shown all season.
"A big part of it is our pitching," he said. "If that keeps us going, we can make a run. As long as our hitting stays how it has been, we'll do great."