Fort Ripley tops Braves to qualify

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.