Moorhead Gains Re-Match with Chanhassen for Class B Title

The Moorhead Brewers defeated Cold Spring 4-3 in Shakopee today to advance to a showdown tomorrow with Chanhassen for the Class B State Amateur Baseball title.  The Red Birds defeated the Brewers Friday night 4-2 to rest some arms for Sunday.

In Class B there are no pitchers drafted to assist a team in playing multiple games at the end of the tournament. I used to say the winner's bracket team was in the driver's seat because they should have more reliable arms available. However, more often than not in recent years the team that has come from the loser's bracket needing to win two games has been able to ride their momentum to a title.

This afternoon Cold Spring defeated Miesville 7-2 in Shakopee to end the Mudhens season. Springers shortstop Jordan Barth cranked home runs off two different pitchers and had 4 RBI in the win.  He hit a homer off Miesville starter Connor Malcom and another one left the yard off a pitch delivered by veteran Chris Olean.

Cold Spring also had two doubles in the game which was close until the 7th inning.  Miesville was the home team.  It was 2-1 Cold Spring after the first inning.  The Springers added 2 runs in the 5th, 2 runs in the 7th and a run in the 8th inning.

The Mudhens could muster just one more run in the 8th after scoring in the first inning.  Nick Penick threw 8 innings, scattering 8 hits while striking out 2 and walking 1 batter.  Zach Femrite tossed the final inning and retired Miesville in order.

The Mudhens had 4 errors, Cold Spring 1 error in the game.

In the next game the Springers outhit Moorhead 11-8 and got a terrific pitching performance from the man who ended the previous game, Zach Femrite.  He threw all nine innings against Moorhead taking the tough 4-3 loss.  Femrite fanned 5 batters and walked 2.  He also hit a batter.

Moorhead had four different pitchers take the hill.  Ryan Olson started and went the first 4 innings allowing 1 run on 4 hits with 1 strikeout, 2 walks.  He left the game with the score 1-1.  Kyle Kingsley earned the win by throwing the next two innings.  He allowed 2 runs on 6 hits, with no walks or strikeouts.

Matt Oye threw a perfect inning.  Parker Trewin earned the save while throwing the final two innings giving up a hit, striking out a batter while facing one guy over the minimum.

Cold Spring had two errors while Moorhead played error free baseball.

Chanhassen needs one win to get their third straight title.  Moorhead must win two games Sunday for the crown.  The first game has a scheduled 1:00 p.m. start.  If the Red Birds win they are the Class B champions.