Brainerd Legion in driver's seat in district tournament

The Brainerd American Legion baseball team remained unbeaten in the District 6 tournament with a 6-1 victory over Sartell Thursday at Putz Field in St. Cloud.

It was the 15th straight win for Brainerd (25-5), which plays the Waite Park/Sartell winner for the championship 7 p.m. Friday at Putz Field. A second game, if necessary, would be 11 a.m. Saturday at Faber Field in St. Cloud.

Right-hander Adian Kummet pitched a complete game against Sartell. He allowed one earned run and four hits and had seven strikeouts and seven walks.

Sartell scored its only run in the first. Two of its hits were by its first two batters in the first inning.

Chris Klabo was 3-for-4 with a double and RBI to lead Brainerd at bat. Kyle Holbrook was 2-4 with two RBI and Mike Germain 2-5 with a double and RBI.

Brainerd 100 001 4 -- 6 9 1

Sartell 100 000 0 -- 1 4 4

WP-Adian Kummet. LP-Fish. 2B-Brd, Chris Klabo, Mike Germain. Next game-Brainerd (26-5) vs. Waite Park/Sartell winner, 7 p.m. Friday, championship, Putz Field, St. Cloud.

Wednesday's game

Brainerd 9, St. Cloud 76ers 3

(12 innings)

Brainerd scored six runs in the top of the 12th to edge the 76ers in a winners' bracket game that didn't end until after 1 a.m. Thursday.

Kevin Mertens and Justin Huether paced Brainerd with standout pitching performances.

Mertens went nine innings, struck out 13, walked two and had a no-hitter through six innings.

Huether got the win. He pitched three scoreless innings, struck out four and gave up three hits and no walks.

"Through 12 innings it was a battle back and forth," Brainerd coach Mark Germain said. "The momentum shifted and changed. They threw a kid who goes to St. Thomas. Him and Mertens battled. He handcuffed us for quite a while."

Brainerd's leading hitters were Brady Prince, who was 2-for-5 with a triple, Tom Andrew was 1-2 with one RBI, Holbrook was 2-4 with an RBI and Tony Hennen was 2-5 with one RBI.

Mark Germain said right fielder Fred Weiss turned in two web gems.

"One was a short hit to right," Mark Germain said. "Fred was coming in full barrel, laid out for it and made the catch. On the other one he ran and hit the fence. He was lucky a post wasn't there."

Brainerd 000 010 020 006 -- 9 13 2

St. Cloud 000 000 102 000 -- 3 7 2

WP-Justin Huether.