LEGION BASEBALL

ST. CLOUD - A six-run eighth inning sparked the host Waite Park Silver Stars to a 16-10 victory over Brainerd in the District 6 Division I championship game Saturday at Putz Field.

Trailing 3-1 and 6-3, a seven-run fifth catapulted Brainerd into a 10-6 edge. But the Silver Stars weren't finished, scoring three runs in the seventh, six in the eighth and one in the ninth to capture their first district title since 2000.

The loss ended Brainerd's season with a 12-14 record.

Waite Park's Mike Frericks led off the seventh with a triple and scored on Justin Haakenson's RBI single. Dylan Fuchs followed with another triple and Josh Althaus scored him with a single.

That ended the day for Brainerd starter Joel Martin, who like Frericks, was pitching on short rest. Both threw nine innings on the first day of the tournament Wednesday.

The Stars put the game away in the eighth. Fuchs drew a bases-loaded walk and Josh Althaus followed with an RBI single. Reese Gregory walked to score to force in another run. After a fielder's choice, Matt Korte had an RBI single and Mitch Funk a two-run single.

After Frericks left the mound in the fifth, Haakenson came in but faced only four batters. Reese Gregory then gave up a two-run single to Travis Whirley, but pitched 2.2 scoreless innings after going nine innings Friday to keep Waite Park alive in a 10-1 win over Brainerd.

Brainerd's Rob Veith finished 2-for-5 with two runs, two RBIs, a walk and stolen base. Brett Jenkins was 3-4 with a run, double, RBI and walk. Martin was 1-4 with a sacrifice fly. Reid Mimmack was 2-6. Tom Fairbanks was 2-3 with a run and walk. Whirley was 2-4 with two runs, two RBIs and a walk. Jaron Hanson was 1-4 with two runs and a walk. Kevin Peterson was 1-5 with a run.

Funk finished 5-for-6 for Waite Park, Haakenson was 4-6, Eric Schneider 3-6, Fuchs 3-5, Althaus 3-5 and Frericks 2-5.

Peterson took the loss. In 1.1 innings he allowed three hits and five earned runs, walked three and struck out one.

Waite Park 300 030 361 - 16 22 3

Brainerd 010 270 000 - 10 14 1

WP: Reese Gregory. LP: Kevin Peterson. 2B: WP-Justin Haakenson, Brd-Brett Jenkins. 3B: WP-Mike Frericks, Dylan Fuchs. Record: Brainerd finishes 12-14.