St. Patrick comes from behind to down Union Hill for Region 3C title

By: 
Jay Schneider, lrlife@frontiernet.net

St. Patrick scored two unearned runs in the 9th inning and one more in the 10th inning to come from behind to defeat Union Hill for the Region 3C Championship Sunday, August 15 in St. Patrick.

The Irish, the No. 1 seed in the tournament, trailed 7-5 after the Bulldogs scored a run in the top of the 9th to take a 7-5 lead.

Kal Brohmer and Ryan Friedges singled with one out in the 9th. They both scored following an error by the third baseman and an error by the left fielder, tying the game at 7-all.

Trevor Divinski struck out the 3rd, 4th and 5th hitters in the Union Hill line-up in the 10th.

St. Patrick opened the bottom of the 10th inning with a Kevin Pexa walk. He moved to second when Dom DeLuca was hit by a Nathan Berg pitch. Jace Westman followed with a single and Pexa scored on an error by Berg.

The Irish scored a run to start the game in the bottom of the first on a walk and stolen base by Jack Friedges, and an error which plated Friedges.

Union Hill scored three runs in the fourth inning on a two-run double by Nate Lee and a run scoring single by Jack Becker. They built a 6-1 lead by scoring three more runs in the top of the fifth. All three runs scored on a home run by Nathan Berg off St. Patrick starting pitcher Zach Seurer.

A solo home run by Jack Friedges, a two run single by Matt Ambroz, and a run scoring double by Seth Ambroz plated four Irish runs in the bottom half of the fifth inning, trimming the Union Hill lead to 6-5.

Seurer started for St. Patrick and allowed all six runs on seven hits. Phillip Garcia faced 15 batters in four innings, allowing one earned run on two hits. Divinski earned the win with his three 10th inning strike outs.

Jack Kreutzian started for Union Hill and allowed five runs on six hits in 4 1/3 innings. Joe Becker pitched the next four innings, allowed only two hits and striking out five. Berg gave up three hits, walked one, hit one, and allowed the unearned winning run in the 10th.

Every Union Hill starter had one hit. Berg knocked in three and scored twice. Lee knocked in two.

St. Patrick was led by Matt Ambroz with two hits and two RBI, Seth Ambroz with two hits, and Kal Brohmer with two hits and two runs scored.

The eight-team Region 3C Bracket started Sunday, August 8 with St. Patrick defeating St. Benedict (9-3), New Prague edging Montgomery (1-0), Prior Lake downing Faribault (7-2), and No. 2 seed Union Hill defeating Lonsdale (7-2).

In the loser’s bracket Tuesday, Aug. 10, No. 8 seed St. Benedict eliminated No. 4 seed Montgomery (8-6) and No. 3 seed Faribault eliminated No. 7 seed Lonsdale (5-1).

The semifinals saw St. Patrick down New Prague (10- 0) and Union Hill down No. 6 seed Prior Lake (12-0).

In the consolation semifnals, St. Benedict earned a State Tourney berth with a win over Prior Lake (7-6). New Prague also earned a State bid with a win over Faribault (8-4).

In the third place game, New Prague knocked off St. Benedict (6-5). Jacob Mader had the game winning hit and also earned the victory on the mound in relief of James Fuerniss. Bryce Novak had a run scoring double and Bennett Isley knocked in a run with a single for the Orioles.

St. Patrick, Union Hill, New Prague, and St. Benedict will represent Region 3C in the Class A State Tournament that begins this weekend in Hamburg, Chaska, and Waconia.

St. Patrick will receive a first round bye and will wait until Saturday, Aug. 28 at 11 a.m. at Waconia when they will play the winner of Austin vs. Paynesville.

New Prague will face Bemidji Saturday, Aug. 21 at 11 a.m. at Waconia. A win and they would face Milroy the next weekend.

Union Hill will play the Region 11 3rd place Kimball Express Sunday, Aug. 22 at 11 a.m. in Hamburg. A win and they would play Alexandria the following weekend.

St. Benedict will play Region 15 runner-up Luxemburg Saturday, Aug. 21 at 7 p.m. in Waconia. A win and they would advance to play Ada the next weekend.

All four teams drafted three players who will be added to their teams for the State Tourney.

St. Patrick, 21-5 overall, drafted Nate Rost of Faribault, Luke Weber of Prior Lake, and Phil Tesdel of Lonsdale.

Union Hill, 18-9 overall, drafted John Krocak of Montgomery, Ross Beumer and Adam Fjerstad, both of Lonsdale.

New Prague, 15-11 overall, drafted Ben Morrison of Prior Lake, Nate Picka of Veseli, and Luke Allen of Webster.

St. Benedict, 13-16 overall, drafted Joe Grote of Faribault, Jonny Houston of Prior Lake, and Matt Parkinson of Veseli.

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