Minster falls to Russia in ACME tournament play

NEW BREMEN — Chances can be rare in baseball.

Russia took advantage of an opportunity, while Minster let a couple go unseized in the ACME Region 4 sectional final, with Russia winning 2-1.

Both teams now advance to the District tournament, with Russia as the number one seed, and MInster number two.

Minster scored a run in the top of the first, and Russia evened it with one in the third. It stayed that way until the fifth, when an errant pickoff throw allowed Russia to grab the lead, which they kept the rest of the way.

For Russia, Haydn Quinter started, pitching two innings. Jordan Meyer then pitched three, and got the win. Ben Rinderle then came on for the final two innings.

Quinter allowed one run on two hits, Meyer gave up three hits, and Rinderle retired all six batters he faced.

For Minster, starter Zach Fortman pitched four innings, allowing two hits. Johnny Nixon pitched two, allowing one hit. Each gave up one run.

Russia coach Brandon Koverman said, “we always talk about opportunities” and pointed to the situation in the fifth. “Our pitching and defense also came through,” Koverman said. “We play together. This was a team win.”

Minster coach Brett Hoelscher said, “We were just unable to get the two-out hit that we needed. Both sides had good pitching.”

Russia won a coin flip to be the home team for the game, which was played at New Bremen.

Minster’s leadoff hitter, Chase Close, smacked a double to centerfield that was just beyond the reach of the fielder’s dive. A groundout moved him to third. After another out, Fortman helped his own cause with a single to left. A strikeout then retired the side.

Russia’ first two batters were retired before Quinter reached on an error, with the ball going off an outfielder’s glove. Jared Polling was hit by a pitch to put a second man on, but a a strikeout denied further action.

Minster got two men aboard in the second on a walk and error, but both were left there. Russia got its first hit in the second with an infield single by Patrick Bohman, However, he was thrown out trying to steal second, and Minster got a strikeout and groundout.

After Minster went 1-2-3 in the top half of the third, Sam York drew a walk to lead off for Russia in the bottom half. Going back to the top of the order, Zane Shappie singled to left. A sac bunt by Brayden Monnin moved the runners to second and third, respectively. Quinter then hit a grounder to short. The out was made, but York was able to race home to tie the game at 1.

In the fourth, Oldiges walked and Alex Schmitmeyer lined a single to right-center for Minster. A wild pitch allowed both to advance before a walk for Brady Wolf loaded the bases with no outs.

Eli Rindler’s fly to centerfield was caught by Shappie. He then fired a perfectly aimed throw to the plate, with catcher Bohman applying the tag on Oldiges’ helmet as he slid for the second out.. Another fly ball to left was out number three, leaving it tied.

In the bottom half, Russia got a one-out walk, but nothing else.

Minster’s first two men were set down in the fifth. Nixon and Fortman then got back-to-back singles. Oldiges was plunked, loading the bases again. It would go for naught as the next batter flied out to center.

York drew his second walk for Russia to start the fifth. He took second on a wild pitch, then advanced to third on a sacrifice by Shappie. Monning hit a ball to third which was fired back to the plate. York attempted to dodge the tag, but was unsuccessful. A single to left by Quinter moved Monnin over to third. Then came the pickoff throw that skipped under the first baseman’s glove. Quinter raced to second, but more importantly Monnin sped to the plate with the go-ahead run.

The last inning and a half went quickly, with Rinderle striking out three and getting three others in various ways to secure the win.

Russia and Minster faced off again on Saturday , five days after their previous matchup, with the Wildcats again falling, 6-2.

Russia’s Xavier Philipot retired the first 13 batters he faced and the Raiders scored five runs in the fourth inning off Minster starter Nathan Beair.

Philipt rallied for his own cause with a two-run single and Jude Counts and Brayden Monnin each tacked on singles that drove in runs.

Eli Rindler got the Wildcats on the board in the sixth inning when he stole home.

Later, Johnny Nixon led off the seventh inning with a single and later scored on Adam Rindler’s single.