Braves start playoffs on positive note

The Waseca Braves got the playoffs started on a positive note with a 12-2 victory over Wanamingo Saturday at Cannon Falls.

 

"It was a nice way to start the playoffs," said Braves coach Tink Larson. 

 

Tyson Reger had a fantastic game on the mound and at the plate.

 

On the mound, he pitched a complete game win, gave up one earned run, and didn’t walk a batter.

 

At the plate, he was 4-for-4, plus two walks, two doubles, one run scored, and one run batted in.

 

It was a close game until the Braves broke it open in the top of the ninth inning.

 

Waseca catcher Kellen Klinger made a nice play on a wild pitch in the bottom of the eighth inning with the score 5-2 and Wanamingo had runners on second and third with no outs.

 

Klinger retrieved a wild pitch by Reger and made a perfect throw to the plate where, Reger tagged the runner for the out. Reger then struck out the next two hitters to get out of the jam.

 

As a team, the Braves hit the ball well as eight different batters had hits, five of them with at least two hits.

 

The following day, the Braves returned to Cannon Falls and defeated Minnesota Lake.

 

"It was a great game," said Larson. "We scored two unearned runs in the first inning and another unearned run in the fifth inning.

 

Kelvin Nelson pitched a great 6 2/3 shutout innings. Reger was fantastic in relief. He came in with the bases loaded and one out. He had a strikeout and a fly ball out and then retired the last six batters in the game. It took him only 26 pitches to get eight outs. Twenty-three of those 26 pitches were strikes.

 

A big hit for us by Cody Huiras had the big hit for the Braves, driving in two first-inning runs.

 

The Braves play Friday at 8 p.m. at Waterville, with the winner advancing to the Class C state tournament.