Plato Bluejays are Class C State Amateur Baseball Champions

Plato, the team that defeated the Cannon Falls Bears in Saturday's quarterfinal round, went on to win the Class C title with a 14-6 win over the team that ousted Faribault from the tournament, Green Isle.

Green Isle had five errors in the game and could only get four hits in Watkins. Plato draftee Tony Kley of Winsted shut down the Irish after he relieved starter Chris Odegaard in the first inning when Green Isle jumped out to a 4-2 lead thanks to a Mac Zachow three-run homer.

After two innings, Green Isle led 6-2 but Plato plated six runs in the fifth inning and added three in the seventh and another in the eighth. The Bluejays cranked out 19 hits in the game against their Crow River Valley League-South rival.

Kley was named tournament MVP. It was Plato's third state title. They were champs in 1996 after a 7-5 win over Gaylord and 2007 when they beat Sauk Rapids 6-3.

Cannon Falls pitcher and manager Keith Meyers was named to the All-Tournament Team. He threw a no-hitter against Luverne on Saturday and then returned to throw three plus innings of relief in Sunday's 8-5 loss to Plato. Meyers allowed just two runs in more than 21 innings of pitching at state.

Hampton's Patrick Strey was also named to the All-Tournament Team. Four Green Isle players joined five Plato selections for the team.

In addition to ousting Faribault from the tournament in the second round, Green Isle bested the Wanamingo Jacks in the first round and defeated Hampton in the quarterfinals.