The No. 4 Nisswa Lightning were edged out in a 17-14 loss to the No. 1 Buckman Billygoats on Sunday, July 25, in a North/East winners bracket playoff game.
The Billygoats used back-to-back six-run innings in the sixth and seventh to go ahead 17-8, but the Lightning roared back with two runs in the eighth and another four in the ninth before Buckman could record the third and final out.
Kody Ruedisili had five hits, including two home runs and a double. Jeremiah Piepkorn, Aaron Jenkins and Drew Boland homered as well for the Lightning.
Sam Peterson hit two doubles and drove in four runs
Seven different pitchers saw action for the Lightning.
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Nisswa will play No. 3 Fort Ripley on Saturday, July 31.
Nisswa 15, Pierz 5
The Lightning overwhelmed their opponents, the No. 5 Pierz Brewers, by a score of 15-5 in the opening round of the playoffs on Friday, July 23.
The Brewers scored three in the top of the first inning off starting pitcher Ruedisili, who would only register one out before giving way to Brett Jenkins.
The Brewers scored two more, one in the second inning and one in the fourth, before Nisswa turned things around.
In the fifth inning, Nisswa erupted for nine runs to take the lead. Boland and Ruedislli had two-run singles in the inning.
The Lightning added three more in the sixth on singles from Matt Casperson and Peterson to go up 12-3.
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They added three more in the seventh inning thanks in part to a home run by Ruedisili and a double by Troy Miller.
