I hate to be right sometimes - today is one of them. If you had a chance to read my blog yesterday afternoon, I said last night's game between Hutchinson and Maple Lake would come down to what team made more plays (or didn't make plays).
By my count, Hutchinson left five plays on the field (which resulted in all four runs) and Maple Lake didn't make one (didn't cost them any runs). The Lakers won 4-1 and advanced to the state qualifier game with St. Michael Friday night.
The Huskies had a ball drop in between an infielder and two outfielders (Corey Trick started a 1-6-3 double play two pitches later), a dropped low throw at first base (the next batter drove in the runner with a triple) and a potential play at the plate missed when the throw went to third, a missed double play on a low throw that the first baseman couldn't hang onto (that runner scored on the home run) and a hard hit ball back to the mound that the pitcher couldn't corral in time for the out (that led off the big three-run eighth inning).
Hutchinson also missed numerous chances to plate runners early in the game. When you get up against a pitcher such as Chad Raiche, you have to capitalize on your chances early.
In the second inning, Tim Thode walked and Justin Juergensen singled with one out, but a strikeout and a ground out ended the threat.
In the third inning, Brooks Albrecht doubled and moved to third on a wild pitch with two outs, but Evan Kohli's rocket line drive found the glove of Lakers shortstop Marcus Zahn.
Kohli had a second chance two innings later with runners at second and third with two outs, but a strikeout left the two teams scoreless.
Down 4-1 in the eighth, Hutchinson had runners on first and second with two outs, but Juergensen was rung up on a pitch 3-4 inches off the plate.
The Huskies had a runner on in the ninth with Jarrod Zelm up 3-0 in the count, but Raiche struck him out on three fastballs and got Albrecht on a liner to Keith Jerpseth at first base for the final out.
So, it's Maple Lake and St. Michael tomorrow night. Both teams have thrown their aces (ML - Raiche, St. M - Adam McGrane), so we'll likely see Todd Fuller for the Lakers (hard throwing left-hander) and Joe Barblin for the Saints.
The winner advances to the state tournament and Sunday's seeding round. The loser plays the winner of Delano and Hutchinson at 7 p.m. Saturday for the second spot in state.
As for Delano and Hutchinson, it will be interesting to see who each team throws. My belief is that Adam Padrnos (5-1 record, 3.73 ERA) will go for Hutchinson with Kyle Messner starting and giving what he has in the second game (if there is one).
The A's threw their top pitcher in Brent Muckenhirn Tuesday, so they'll likely go with either Jeff Althoff or veteran Jeff Janzen. Hutchinson beat Delano 5-2 and 10-1 this season, but this is a different team right now.
If Hutchinson can score four or five runs, they should be in good shape, but Delano has been getting great pitching and defense in their post-season run, which included wins over Maple Lake and Hamel last weekend.
I'll be gone Friday and Saturday for the wedding of Huskies pitcher Corey Ryks (in Marshall), so hopefully I'll be zooming back for a game or two Sunday. If not, it's been another fun season being around the team.