Braves earn 1st state trip since 2000

AVON - The Brainerd Braves snapped a 5-5 tie with two runs in the top of the ninth and hung on for a 7-5 victory over the Sobieski Skis Saturday to clinch a state tournament berth for the first time in nine years.

The last time Brainerd qualified for state was 2000 when it won the Class C championship.

Rain postponed Saturday's region title game between the Braves and Fort Ripley until 7 p.m. Monday at Pierz. It will be the teams' sixth meeting of the season. Rain had delayed the Brainerd-Sobieski game by 84 minutes.

Saturday's victory also will extend the record of consecutive state tournament appearances by Brainerd's John Riewer to 30. He played in his first state tournament in 1980 with Deer Creek.

With the score tied 5-5 in the top of the ninth Saturday, Riewer led off with a single and Beau Mertens ran for him. Jason Roepke then singled down the right-field line, sending Mertens to third.

With runners at the corners and no outs, Skis reliever Nate Olson threw a wild pitch, scoring Mertens. Jamie LaDouceur then doubled to center, scoring Roepke, to make it 7-5.

In the bottom of the ninth, Riewer retired leadoff batter Aaron Hennes on a fly ball. Jake Kluver singled before Riewer got Beau Hanowski on a foul out to the catcher and Jon Czech on a ground out to first to end the game.

Tony Whitlock started for Brainerd and went six innings, allowing two earned runs and four hits. He struck out two, walked two and hit one.

Riewer got the win. In three innings he allowed three runs, none earned, and four hits. He walked none.

Roepke finished 3-for-4 with two extra-base hits and a walk and scored three runs. LaDouceur was 2-4 with a double, sacrifice and two RBIs. Brandon Wolf was 2-3 with a double, walk and two RBIs and Nate Foss was 2-4.

Jake Kluver was 3-4 and Jason King and Andrew Lange each had two hits for Sobieski.

Sobieski 5 8 3

Brainerd 7 13 3

WP: John Riewer (2-0). LP: Nate Olson (2-1).