The Bertha Blazers scored six runs in the first inning Saturday en route to a convincing 12-1 win over Nimrod in the Region 14C championship game.
The streaking Bertha ballclub ran their winning string to 15 games as they locked up their fourth region title in the past six years."
The Blazers have drawn a first round bye in the state tournament and will cool their heels until Aug. 29 when they will face the winner of the Roseau-Cannon Falls game at 11 a.m. in Cold Spring. The winner of that game squares off with Luverne, Mora or Fort Ripley Sept. 5 at 11 a.m.
The Blazers have added Midway's Jake Lund, Bluffton's Dustin Geiser and Perham's Jack Stigman to their pitching staff for state tournament competition.
"We feel that we picked up three very good pitchers through the draft and are very confident that they will help our mound staff compete at the state level. Our defense has been solid all year and our hitters are all hitting stride at the right time," Bertha coach Steve Riewer said.
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The Gnats will head to the state tournament as Region 14C's runner-up club. Nimrod has drawn Kimball Saturday in a 5 p.m. game at Watkins. The winner will play Ada Sunday at 11 a.m.
The Blazers pounded Nimrod pitching for 16 hits on Saturday. John Riewer, Nathan Meissner and Preston Riewer collected three hits apiece. Patrick Riewer slugged a two-run shot and scored three times. Mike Blom also brought home three runs.
Nine different players contributed hits for Bertha.
The Blazers sent 11 batters to the plate in their six-run first inning. Austin Selvey drew a one-out walk and Patrick Riewer fouled off three pitches before connecting with an Alex Brockpahler offering. Blom reached when he was hit by a pitch, and John Riewer singled. After the Gnats corralled a fly ball by Brian Hinzmann for the second out, Meissner, Grand Heid and Preston Riewer laced three straight singles. Marcus Riewer reached on an error before Selvey went down swinging.
The Blazers padded their lead with three runs in the fourth frame. Blom reached on a walk, John Riewer singled, Hinzman flied out and Meissner singled in a run. Heid's fly led to the second out by Preston Riewer kept the inning alive with a single. Marcus Riewer came up with the bases full and singled in John Riewer. Meissner scored on a fielding error.
Patrick Riewer and Blom had back-to-back doubles to lead off the fifth for Bertha. A groundout by Jeremy Frethem brought in Blom with Bertha's final run of the game.
The Gnats scored their run in the fourth when Mike Hepola connected with a two-out offering.
Brockpahler, Paul Funk and Taylor Carlson also collected hits for the Gnats.
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Patrick Riewer pitched six innings to gain the mound win. Riewer walked two and struck out seven. Preston Riewer came on in relief.
The Blazers have scored 49 runs with 49 hits and committed only one error in their last four games and they have their coach smiling.
"If we can continue to play at the level we have been playing, we have a very good chance to win a couple of ball games at the state tournament," Riewer said.
Nimrod 000 100 00 - 1 4 3
Bertha 610 320 0x - 12 16 1
Alex Brockpahler, Ben Bestland (4), Beau Mertens (6) and Adam Thompson; Patrick Riewer, Preston Riewer (7) and Mike Blom
WP- Patrick Riewer; LP- Brockpahler
HR- Hepola (N), Patrick Riewer (B)
