Hometown nine erase seven-run deficit, top New Ulm Brewers in extras
Posted July 27, 2016
By CJ Siewert
Trailing the New Ulm Brewers 11-4 heading to the bottom of the eighth, the St. Peter town team was to the point of accepting defeat. The Saints tacked on a pair of runs in the eighth to make it a five-run deficit, but the prospect of scoring five in the ninth still seemed improbable. After exhausting all of their pitching options having played three games in as many days, the Saints turned to catcher Billy Hanson to throw the ninth. Hanson gave up a solo home run and the local nine trailed by six heading to the bottom half.
The Brewers went to their bullpen and the Saints took advantage of erratic pitching with six walks. Now trailing by three runs with two outs, the bases loaded, and a full count, Ty Kaus hit a bases-clearing single to center field with Jordan Wilmes cruising from first to home for the game-tying run. Hanson pitched a three-up-three-down 10th, giving the Saints an opportunity for a walkoff. Ryan Kapsner and Hanson started the frame with consecutive singles, and Jeff Menk was walked to load the bases for CJ Siewert. New Ulm pulled an outfielder to play directly in front of second base with the infielders in, but Siewert was able to knock in the game-winning run with a hard grounder to the outfielder playing in front of second base.
Kaus led the Saints at the plate, going 3-for-6 with three RBI and two runs. Jovan Rodriguez (2-4, 2 R, 2 BB), Kapsner (2-5, R, RBI, SAC), and Wilmes (2-4, R, BB, SB, RBI) also had multiple hits.
St. Peter improves to 17-7 with the improbable victory and wraps up the regular season Friday at home against Class B Chanhassen. Region 6C playoffs begin Friday, Aug. 5 and the No. 2 seed Saints will host No. 7 Fairfax.
