Amateur Baseball: Aces stay alive at state tournament

Red Wing stayed in the hunt at the Minnesota Baseball Association Class B State Tournament with a 4-3 victory over Sauk Rapids in Cold Spring.

Right fielder Steve Boldt scored on a wild pitch in the top of the ninth inning to give the Aces the lead. Boldt led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a groundout. Boldt then got to third base on an error.

The Cyclones rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth inning. Tommy Wippler and Nate Baraga singled to start the inning and Paul Schlagen singled to score Baraga.

Sauk Rapids took a 1-0 lead in the second inning after Wippler drove in Scott Geiger, who led off the inning with a double.

Designated hitter Zach Laffey gave Red Wing a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning with a two-run homer with two outs. Laffey finished 1-for-4.

Adam Thygesen’s groundout in the fifth made it 3-1 when left fielder Dave Jenson came across the plate. Jenson led off the inning by reaching on an error.

The Aces had just five hits in the game. Jimmy Bohmbach and Zach Garner also had hits.

Red Wing starter Andy Gibart outdueled Cyclones starter Jeff Hille for the win. Both pitchers threw nine innings. Gibart gave up three runs on six hits and did not walk a hitter. Hille allowed four runs on five hits, walked one and struck out one.

The Aces will face Victoria Friday at Joe Faber Field in St. Cloud at 7:30 p.m. Victoria lost 4-3 to Cold Spring Saturday.

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