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Jake Serfling pitches during a July 24 game. Photo by Pete Mohs
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Things were perfect for the Crosslake/Fifty Lakes/Pequot Lakes American Legion baseball team as it won by shutouts in the first two games of the District 6, Division II tournament Thursday, July 23.
But things didn't go well in the next two games as Crosslake/FL/PL was eliminated after losing 15-5 against eventual champion Royalton on Friday, July 24, and was edged by Maple Lake 8-7 in the loser's bracket final Saturday, July 25.
"Everything that could go right did on Thursday," said Crosslake/FL/PL coach Mike Monson. "And then everything that could go wrong did after that, especially on Friday."
Monson's team finishes 13-8 overall after placing third in the district and winning its third straight East Subdistrict 6 title.
Meanwhile, Royalton downed Maple Lake 9-4 to advance to the state tournament Friday, July 31, in LeSueur.
Following are highlights of Crosslake/FL/PL's district games:
Crosslake/FL/PL 10, Bertha-Hewitt 0
In Regal, Crosslake/FL/PL opened the tournament July 23 with a six-inning victory as Ben Kepner surrendered just one hit in five innings and Jake Box pitched the final inning and allowed one hit.
On offense, Kepner was 3-for-3 with a solo homer, Tyler Wittwer was 2-for-3, Brandon Hilts was 2-for-2 and Jake Serfling doubled. Crosslake/FL/PL finished with 14 hits.
Crosslake/FL/PL 4, Sebeka 0
Also July 23 in Regal, Crosslake/FL/PL downed Sebeka as Hilts was the winning pitcher, allowing two of Sebeka's four hits. Charlie Hollinbeck was 3-for-3 and Box was 2-for-3. Josh Rudbeck also had a hit for Crosslake/FL/PL, which finished with seven hits.
Royalton 15, Crosslake/FL/PL 5
On July 24 in Paynesville, Royalton grabbed an early lead and triumphed in five innings in a matchup of the tournament's last unbeaten teams.
Royalton opened the scoring in the top of the first on Aaron Trutwin's three-run homer. They extended the lead to 4-0 in the second inning before Crosslake/FL/PL added a run in the bottom of the second on Chase Mason's single. Royalton extended the lead to 10-1 in the third, highlighted by a two-run single by Brett Bursch and a solo homer by winning pitcher Zach Lanners.
Crosslake/FL/PL scored twice in the bottom of the inning to cut the deficit to 10-3 as Hollinbeck tallied on a wild pitch and Serfling added an RBI single. But Royalton outscored Crosslake/FL/PL 5-2 in the next two innings to win.
Hollinbeck, Kepner and Mason each had two hits as Crosslake/FL/PL finished with eight hits. Royalton took advantage of 10 hits and three Crosslake/FL/PL errors.
Starting pitcher Tom LaRue was replaced by Serfling in the second inning. LaRue allowed four runs while Serfling surrendered 11. Jordan Severance, who played his youth baseball growing up in Paynesville, pitched the seventh inning.
Maple Lake 8, Crosslake/FL/PL 7
On July 25 in Paynesville, Maple Lake scored six unearned runs to eliminate Crosslake/FL/PL in the loser's bracket final.
Both teams scored twice in the first inning and then Crosslake/FL/PL assumed a 4-2 lead after two innings. Maple Lake then grabbed an 8-4 lead with three runs in both the third and fourth innings. Crosslake/FL/PL began a comeback with two runs in the fifth and one run in the seventh.
"We had the tying run on first base when the game ended," Monson said. "We had our chances, but our five errors really hurt."
Kepner and Hilts combined to pitch six innings. Kepner allowed four hits and four walks while Hills allowed four hits and had four strikeouts. Crosslake/FL/PL finished with nine hits while Maple Lake had eight hits. Kepner finished with two doubles and Serfling and Wittwer were each 2-for-4. One of Wittwer's hits was a home run.
