Brainerd splits on first day

ST. CLOUD - Chris Sausen swung a hot bat and was the winning pitcher as the Brainerd sophomore VFW team opened play in the North Subdistrict 6 tournament Monday with a 22-3 thumping of Menahga.

Sausen pitched a three-hit complete game and went 3-for-4 with a grand slam to lead Brainerd in a five-inning victory. He added two triples and finished with eight RBIs.

On the mound Sausen allowed three hits, no earned runs, struck out eight and walked none.

Nate Eschenbacher was 3-3 with a triple and RBI.

Jack Hegarty, Blaine Bubalo, Mitch Bzdok, Bruce London and Pat Skogen all had two hits for Brainerd. Mike Smith had an RBI triple.

Brainerd dropped the five-inning, rain-shortened second game 5-2 to St. Cloud Red, which snapped a 2-2 tie by scoring three runs in the fourth.

Hegarty had a 2-run single in the second. Skogen was 1-1 with a walk. Bzdok doubled and Jack Luke walked twice.

Bzdok pitched all five innings. He allowed seven hits and three earned runs, struck out six and walked four.

Game One

Brainerd 22 21 3

Menahga 3 3 3

5 innings

WP: Chris Sausen. LP: Ben Skoog.

Game Two

Brainerd 2 3 2

St. Cloud Red 5 7 0

5 innings

WP: Wood. LP: Mitch Bzdok. Record: Brd 26-10. Next: Brainerd vs. Little Falls/Sauk Rapids loser 5 p.m. Tuesday at St. Cloud (loser eliminated)