Roepke, Owen power Brainerd to triumph

The Brainerd Braves clinched a spot in the Region 8C tournament with a 10-7 win over Harding Sunday in Brainerd.

The Dinosaurs built a 5-1 lead, but Brainerd scored three runs in the fourth and Ronn Hess' two-out, three-run double in the fifth gave the Braves a 7-5 lead.

Derek Owen hit a two-run homer in the eighth to make the final 10-7. Jason Roepke went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a home run for the Braves.

Harding is eliminated from the playoffs, while Brainerd will play at Fort Ripley next week for the North title.

Harding 7 9 2

Brainerd 10 10 5

WP: Christian Larson. LP: Joel Hendrickson. SV: Jason Roepke. 2B: B Roepke. HR: B Derek Owen.

Lastrup 11, Buckman 3

LASTRUP - Dustin Schmaltz led off the second inning with a home run and Chad Weiss added a three-run shot later in the inning as top-seeded Lastrup topped second-seeded Buckman 11-3 Sunday.

Weiss finished 2-4 with a double, homer, three RBIs and two runs scored. He also picked up the save.

Schmaltz finished 3-3 with a walk and two RBIs. Rick Schlieman was 2-3 with two RBIs and a run and Don Weiss was 1-1 with a double.

Buckman's Joe Kahl was 3-4 with a walk and two runs. Todd Robinson finished 2-4 with a double and two RBIs. Shawn Lanners had two hits and Wade Bauer drove in a run.

Buckman 3 13 5

Lastrup 11 10 0

WP: Jason Gross. LP: Jeremy Monson. S: Chad Weiss. 2B: L-Chad Weiss, Don Weiss; B-Todd Robinson. HR: L-Dustin Schmaltz, Chad Weiss.

Pierz Bulldogs 11, Pierz Brewers 9

PIERZ - The fourth-seeded Pierz Bulldogs eliminated the third-seeded Pierz Brewers 11-9 Sunday in the East playoffs.

With the Brewers leading 9-8 after eight innings, the Brewers committed back-to-back errors with one out in the ninth that allowed two Bulldogs to reach base.

Jesse Herman's fielder's choice ground out tied the game, and with two outs, Paul Herman blasted a two-run homer for the win.

The Brewers loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the ninth, but Pete Herman got a pop up and a ground out to preserve the win.

Paul Herman finished 4-6 with four runs. Pete Herman was 2-4 with an RBI. Clint Sullivan was 3-5 with an RBI and Mitch Weber went 2-4 with a double and RBI.

The Brewers' Anthony Turk finished 2-3 with three runs. Greg Pohlkamp went 3-4 with two RBIs. Scott Kimman finished 2-3 with two RBIs. Alvin Kimman was 2-3 with three RBIs and Eric Boser added a double.

Bulldogs 11 14 4

Brewers 9 12 6

WP: Pete Herman. LP: Greg Pohlkamp. 2B: Bulldogs-Mitch Weber, Brew-Eric Boser. HR: Bulldogs-Paul Herman.

Saturday's games

Fort Ripley 5, Brainerd 1

FORT RIPLEY - After Brainerd won both regular season games against Fort Ripley, the Rebels turned the tables with a 5-1 win over the Braves in the North Division winner's bracket game Saturday.

Fort Ripley bunched together four straight hits to score three runs in the eighth to make the score 5-0.

The Braves got their only run in the ninth on Brett Thompson's RBI single, which spoiled the Rebels shutout bid.

Caleb McDonald pitched eight innings scattering seven hits for the win.

Brainerd 1 8 2

Fort Ripley 5 9 0

WP: Caleb McDonald. LP: Tony Whitlock. SV: Brett Kramer.

Harding 10, Cuyuna Range 9

HARDING - Harding rallied from a 9-7 deficit in the ninth inning to eliminate Cuyuna Range from the North Division playoffs Saturday with a 10-9 win.

Dean Rocheleau hit a three-run homer in the first inning and Gary Woitalla added a two-run shot in the second inning as the Dinosaurs built early leads.

The Miners rallied with a three-run fifth inning and a three-run seventh to take the lead.

Brian Burman led Cuyuna Range by going 4-5 with a double, home run and four RBIs.

Cuyuna Range 9 12 3

Harding 10 14 4

WP: Dan Rocheleau. LP: Steve Exstad. 2B: H-Curt Caughey 2, Eric Hanneken; C-Brian Burman, Matt Aberle. HR: H-Dean Rocheleau, Gary Woitalla; C-Burman.