Timely Hitting Escapes Pine Island in State Tournament

The Pine Island American Legion Post 84 baseball team lost 6-1 today to BOLD in the State Division 2 Tournament. The loss ended their season with a 15-6 record as they dropped two games in their pool and were ousted from the field.

Post 184 left 11 runners, eight in scoring position.

Keegan Majerus started the game for Post 184 and kept his team in the game until a three-run sixth inning by BOLD. Majerus walked three, hit three batters and allowed seven hits while throwing 121 pitches. He collected three strikeouts. Pine Island also had three errors in the game.

For the second straight day, hits were at a premium for Post 184 with four hits in each game. Six walks were issued to Pine Island hitters in the game and the only run scored in the tournament came on a bases loaded hit batsman.

Joe Bauer had a perfect on-base percentage in the tournament but did not score. Bauer will be a senior in the fall and delayed surgery to clean up some cartilage in a knee to play in the tournament. The shortstop clubbed a two-out double after singles in the first inning by Majerus and Derek Fall.

Pine Island's only other hit was a Josh Navratil infield single to lead off the sixth inning.

BOLD scored a run in the first, fourth and fifth innings before erupting for three runs in the sixth.

Legendary Former Pine Island baseball coach Craig Anderson joined me on the broadcast and pointed out the experience for the younger guys will be invaluable.

The hospitality shown by Paynesville and Spicer was terrific.

The Paynesville high school baseball coach told me a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency helped pay for their gorgeous grandstand. It is also a storm shelter during severe weather. Upon hearing that, Anderson's eyes lit up because their present field is in a flood zone.