Mainstreeters baseball clips Long Prairie-Grey Eagle

Even though it's early in the season, tonight's non-conference game between Sauk Centre and Long Prairie-Grey Eagle had playoff seeding implications at stake. Both squads are gunning for a top-four playoff seed in Sub-Section 6AA-West. The Mainstreeters prevailed by a 4-1 score over the Thunder to even their record at 2-2 overall. LP-GE falls to 3-2 with the loss.

Michael Knoblauch threw a complete game for Sauk Centre while earning a two-RBI home run. Knoblauch's pitching line read K-7 BB-3 ER-0. The Mainstreeters scored four runs on three hits.

For the first time since the 1960s, the meeting of these two teams is a non-conference affair, as LP-GE opted to go to the Prairie Conference for the 2011-12 year and thereafter.  

Up next for the Mainstreeters: a trip to Dick Putz Field in St. Cloud to face the Cathedral Crusaders (#1-ranked and undefeated) on Monday night. First pitch is at 6 p.m.

Mainstreeters' baseball edged by visiting Long Prairie-Grey Eagle

The Mainstreeters lost 7-5 in a conference battle with neighboring rival Long
Prairie-Grey Eagle on Tuesday night on the home diamond.

They remain above .500 with the loss, at 10-9 overall, and finish the West Central North Conference schedule with an 8-8 mark.

In what will be a grueling tournament for the eventual champion and runner-up, the Sub-Section 6AA-West tournament begins next Tuesday, June 1.

Playoff information will follow later this week.

Look for more Mainstreeters' fastpitch softball photos from their playoff opener to be added on Wednesday. You can see a gallery with over a hundred photos from their loss to Minnewaska at http://saukherald.mycapture.com

Sub-Section 6AA-West fastpitch results tonight:
Paynesville Area 3, Minnewaska Area 0 (Lakers load the bases in the bottom of the 7th inning but one of their top hitters is struck out swinging by Bulldogs' ace senior pitcher Whitney Woehler) (this was a #2 vs. #3 matchup)

Rocori 3, New London-Spicer 0 (the #1 vs. #5 seed game)

Streeters' baseball wins again, defeats Osakis 12-2 in shortened innings

The Sauk Centre Mainstreeters' baseball team defeated previously unbeaten Osakis 12-2 in six innings on Monday night.

Osakis was 11-0-1 coming into the game. Sauk Centre improves to 8-6 overall and 7-5 in the WCCN; they are on a five-game winning streak.

Today, the Mainstreeters make the long trip into eastern Minnesota to Mora for a West Central North Conference game.

The Mainstreeters' fastpitch softball team lost 6-1 at Long Prairie-Grey Eagle on Monday. They host Mora at 4:00pm today.

The Mainstreeters' boys golf team took fourth place at the conference meet in Albany on Monday. Team results were: (1) St. Cloud Cathedral 149 (2) New London-Spicer 167 (3) Albany 170 (4) Sauk Centre 173 (5) Melrose 177 (6) Mora 186 (7) Milaca 191 (8) Foley 194 (9) Long Prairie-Grey Eagle 210.

Coach Jarvi reported from Albany, "We had 3 golfers shoot 43: Dillon Rieland, Matt McDonald, and Robby Polipnick."

The Mainstreeters' track and field teams compete at the West Central North Conference Championships today at Albany beginning at 3:30pm.

~RO

Berling's Blast leads Streeters

Tyler Berling was not a happy camper when he stepped to the plate in the sixth inning of Thursday's game against Melrose.

The senior had a no-hitter going into the fifth inning, but gave up a hit and then made a throwing error that helped lead to Melrose taking a 2-1 lead.

Berling came to the plate in the sixth with a chance to redeem himself and did he ever. Berling hit a 1-1 fastball over the left-field fence for a two-run home run, giving the STreeters a 3-2 lead in the WCC battle with their crosstown rivals.

Berling hooted and hollered his way around the base paths, Derek Holm scoring in front of him.

Fellow senior Shane Trattles, who relieved Berling in the sixth, pitched two innings of hitless relief to get the win.

The Streeters improved to 5-6 on the year with the win. Melrose fell to 5-6 as well.

Sauk's game Friday against Foley was canceled due to inclement weather, The game is rescheduled for Monday at 4:30 in Foley. Sauk also plays New London-Spicer next Tuesday at home and will host Albany Thursday.

Streeters fall to Thunder

A six-run fourth inning by the Long Prairie baseball squad led to a 7-5 loss for the Mainstreetrs Mionday in Long prairie.

Sauk jumped to a 3-1 lead on an RBI single by Tyler Berling and a two-run home run by Adam Polipnick. But Long prairie took advantage of some defensive lapses and free passes to score six runs in the fourth. The big blow came way of a 3-run homer following a pair of bases on balls.

Trailing 7-3 Berling addded a two-run double in the fifth. Sauk got their leadoff runner on in the seventh and Berling came to the plate with two out and a runner on with a chance to tie with a long ball. At that point he was 3-for-3 on the day, but grounded out to third to end the contest. Berling and Derek Holm each finished with three hits. Holm scored twice and Berling had 3 RBI. Polipnick was 2-for-3 with two RBI. Michael Knoblauch took the loss on the mound. Berling pitched 3-1/3 innings of scoreless relief.

The Streeters fell to 3-5 overall and 2-4 in the WCC North.

The Streeters will host Mora today at 5 p.m. and Cathedral Thursday at 5 p.m. Shane Trattles takes to the hill today for Sauk.