Brainerd VFW adds 2 more victories

ST. CLOUD -- The sophomore Brainerd VFW baseball team swept into the driver's seat of the District 6 tournament Monday by winning its first two games.

Brainerd bumped off Monticello, the top-seeded team in the South, by a 10-6 score in 12 innings as Brent Potvin delivered a 2-run single and Jason Goerges a 2-run double in the top of the 12th.

In its second game Brainerd defeated Sauk Rapids, the No. 1 seed in the North, 6-0 as Ben Winterfeld pitched a 5-hit complete game, struck out six and walked three.

Brainerd, the second seed in the North, was scheduled to play the Sauk Rapids/St. Cloud Blue winner 1:30 p.m. today at Putz Field in St. Cloud for the district title. If Brainerd lost, it would play again at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Putz Field.

Against Monticello, Brainerd reliever Kevin Mertens pitched the last seven innings, struck out eight, walked three (two intentionally) and gave up four hits. Goerges was 3-for-5 with two doubles and three RBI, J.P. Platisha was 3-for-5 with an RBI, Potvin was 2-for-5 with three RBI and Chad Weiss was 2-for-7.

Against Sauk Rapids, Winterfeld was 2-for-2 with four RBI and Goerges 3-for-4 with a double, triple, single and three runs scored.

In Monday's other tournament games, it was Sauk Rapids 3, St. Cloud Blue 1; and St. Cloud 7, Monticello 6.

First Game

Brainerd 001 201 200 004 -- 10 11 6

Monticello 102 110 100 000 -- 6 7 5

Brainerd -- Jason Goerges, Kevin Mertens (6) and Matt Bower, Lance Herbst (10). Monticello -- Holker, Aaron VanCulin (7) and Pearson. WP -- Mertens (4-0). LP -- VanCulin.

Second Game

Brainerd 103 200 0 -- 6 11 1

Sauk Rapids 000 000 0 -- 0 5 1

Brainerd -- Ben Winterfeld and Lance Herbst. SR -- Jeff Hille, Tyler Kirchner (5) and Mike Lynch. WP -- Winterfeld (3-4). LP -- Hille. Record -- Brd 21-14-1. Next game -- Today 1:30 p.m. vs. Sauk Rapids/St. Cloud Blue winner, Wednesday 11 a.m. (if necessary), both games at Putz Field, St. Cloud