Hawks win, will play Clear Lake

Eden Valley 4, Sauk Rapids 2

Looking at the score, someone might have thought that the game was a classic pitchers duel. However, the teams combined for twelve walks and six hit batsmen, and one balk. The Hawks did outhit the Cyclones eight to four, which helped make up for the seven walks and three hit batsmen by Hawks starting pitcher Matthew Pennertz, who helped himself out at the plate with three hits. Mike Mathies added two hits, and Steve Loesch, a draftee from Pearl Lake, picked up the save for Eden Valley.

Joe Thiel, batting in the leadoff spot where he has been all season long, led off the game for the visitor Hawks with a walk. He moved to second on a sac bunt by Dan Berg and scored on a Joby McCann double. Cyclones starter Nate Larson then held the Hawks in check for the next five innings. Matthew Pennertz held the Cyclones hitless until the fourth inning, but gave up a walk and hit two batters prior to the single. Then, in the fifth inning, after two walks (one intentional) and a hit batter, the Cyclones had the bases loaded with two outs. Nate Larson then hit a one-hopper to Matthew Pennertz, who threw over to McCann at first to get the final out, keeping the score at one to nothing in favor of the Hawks.

In the seventh, the Hawks scored again. Dan Hansen walked, a pitch hit draftee Mitch Denne, and Mike Mathies singled to load the bases, all with one out. Brandon Moehrle then hit a line drive to center field, which scored Hansen from third. Mathew Pennertz then got a single to drive in Denne from second and give the Hawks a three to nothing lead.

However, the bottom of the inning was the interesting part of the game. After a leadoff strike out, Matthew Pennertz walked the next batter. Then, with a two ball, no strike count, Matthew gave way to his dad, Gordy, to face the left handed hitter. He worked the count full, but eventually hit the batter. Matthew re-entered the game, giving up a single to load the bases. He then walked in a run and gave way to Joby McCann, who also walked in a run. Steve Loesch then came in to the game getting the first batter to hit a ground ball to Mike Mathies at third base, which he threw home, forcing the runner. Loesch then got a full count on the next batter and, with the runners all running, struck out the batter to end the threat.

The Hawks worked another run for themselves in the ninth. Brandon Moehrle walked and Adam Hiltner came in the game to run. Then, with Hiltner on first, the pitcher balked, moving Hiltner to second. Joe Thiel singled, but Hiltner could only make it to third. Dan Berg then hit a deep fly ball to the center fielder, scoring Hiltner and giving the Hawks an insurance run.

The Cyclones threatened to score in the bottom of the ninth. After a leadoff single, Loesch struck out the next two batters, but then walked the next hitter. With the tying run on base, Loesch got a a ground ball to Joe Thiel, who flipped it to Chuck Geislinger at second base for the force and the final out, giving the Hawks the four to two win.

Eden Valley Hitting: Matthew Pennertz, 3-3, RBI; Mike Mathies, 2-4; Joe Thiel, 1-3, R; Joby McCann, 1-3, 2B, RBI

Sauk Rapids Hitting: Scott Lochner, 2-3, R

Eden Valley Pitching (IP-H-R-ER-BB-K): Matthew Pennertz (W) 6 1/3-3-2-2-7-3; Gordon Pennertz 0-0-0-0-0-0; Joby McCann 0-0-0-0-1-0; Steve Loesch (S) 2 2/3-1-0-0-1-3

Sauk Rapids Pitching (IP-H-R-ER-BB-K): Nate Larson (L) 6 2/3-6-3-3-2-2; Chris Grafft 2 1/3-2-1-1-1-3