Brainerd VFW keeps on battling

ST. CLOUD -- The Brainerd sophomore VFW baseball team had to wait another day to see how its bid for the District 6 championship turned out.

On Tuesday, Brainerd, which hadn't lost in the double-elimination tournament, was defeated 15-5 by Sauk Rapids, which was the only team remaining that had already lost. The same teams were scheduled to clash this morning at Putz Field in St. Cloud with the winner advancing to the state tournament Aug. 11-14 at Northfield.

Brainerd and Sauk Rapids have each won four of the eight games the teams have played this summer. Kevin Mertens was tentatively scheduled to start on the mound for Brainerd today.

Sauk Rapids scored nine runs in the first inning and added six in the top of the seventh. Brainerd trailed just 9-5 after five innings.

Brainerd's Chad Weiss was 3-for-4, J.P. Platisha 2-for-4 and Brent Potvin 2-for-3. Brainerd pitchers allowed just two earned runs as the team committed five errors.

Travis Sand was 3-for-5 with four RBI to lead Sauk Rapids.

Sauk Rapids 900 000 6 -- 15 11 2

Brainerd 013 010 0 -- 5 10 5

SR -- Nate Swan, Tyler Kirchner (3), Chad Wimmer (6) and Mike Lynch. Brainerd -- Chad Weiss, Matt Aberle (7) and Lance Herbst. WP -- Kirchner. LP -- Weiss. Record -- Brd 21-15-1. Next game -- Brainerd vs. Sauk Rapids 11 a.m. today at Putz Field, St. Cloud.