AVON - Fort Ripley became the first team to qualify for the Class C state tournament with a 2-1 victory over the Brainerd Braves Sunday in the Region 8C tourney.
Brett Kramer pitched a complete game for the Rebels. He struck out four, while allowing one run and five hits.
Jason Sather drove in the game-winning run with a ground out in the bottom of the eighth to break a 1-1 tie.
Kramer locked up the state tournament berth for Fort with a near flawless ninth.
The loss drops Brainerd to the loser's bracket where it will face Sobieski Saturday with Region 8C's second state tourney berth on the line.
Brainerd 1 4 0
Fort Ripley 2 5 1
WP: Brett Kramer. LP: Christian Larson.
Buckman 15, Avon 2
AVON - Gary Boros and Jeremy Monson each drove in three runs as the Buckman Billygoats eliminated Avon in a Region 8C loser's bracket game Saturday.
Todd Robinson picked up a complete-game victory for Buckman scattering six hits and two runs over nine innings to pick up his second win of the tournament.
Corey Egan drove in two runs and finished 2-for-4 with a double.
Buckman 15 9 1
Avon 2 6 3
WP: Todd Robinson. LP: Troy Wunerlich.
Sobieski 2, Buckman 1
AVON - Wade Bauer reached base three times and scored Buckman's lone run as the Billygoats lost to Sobieski 2-1 in a Region 8C elimination game to end their season.
Jeremy Monson needed just 87 pitches to toss a complete game but the Billygoats could not put together any offense against Ski starter Nate Olson.
John Kahl had a single, stolen base and drove in Buckman's run with a ground out in the second inning.
Sobieski will move on to play Brainerd Saturday to determine Region 8C second state tournament entrant.
Buckman 1 7 0
Sobieski 2 6 1
WP: Nate Olson. LP: Jeremy Monson.
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