Brandon-Evansville baseball: Chargers grab 6A-South title

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The Brandon-Evansville baseball team wrapped up a Subsection 6A South title after winning back-to-back games in Morris last Thursday night.

The Chargers beat Hancock 13-10 in the nightcap after taking an 8-5 game against Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley just hours before.

Aaron Lund has done a little bit of everything for this team all season. The senior continued that against Hancock when he delivered one of the biggest hits of the season with a grand slam that helped his team put together a six-run inning. It would prove critical as the Owls put up six of their own in the top of the seventh before coming up just short.

“Our guys gave another gutsy performance,” head coach Brian Perleberg said. “We were able to come away with an exciting win. Hancock has improved tremendously since the beginning of the season, and they were a very dangerous eight seed.”

Hintermeister, Billie Juul, Brandt Bitzan and Nolan Bartholomew each added two hits apiece for Brandon-Evansville. Hintermeister finished with three runs, while Bitzan drove in three. That depth was instrumental in holding off a scrappy Hancock team.

“Our entire lineup put the ball in play very well,” Perleberg said. “And Aaron’s grand slam was a major turning point in this game. Hancock had just scored in the top of the sixth, cutting the lead to 7-5, but [Josh] Goehringer, [Levi] Hintermeister and [Josh] Gebhardt were able to get on base to start out half of the sixth inning to set the stage for Aaron’s big hit.”

The Chargers got to that game by using another big inning to edge CGB 8-5. The Wolverines jumped out to an early 2-0 lead before Brandon-Evansville answered with eight runs over the next four innings. A five-run fourth proved to be the difference as Lund held CGB scoreless over the final two innings.

“I’m very proud of the way we kept our composure early in this game,” Perleberg said. “CGB came out and had four hits in the first inning and put pressure on our defense, but we were able to limit the damage to just two runs and allow our offense a chance to get us back in the game.”

Lund helped himself out with another big game at the plate. He went 3-for-4 with a double, two runs and two RBIs. Dan Schaffer added a double, a single and two RBIs, while Bartholomew connected for a solo home run on his way to two hits and two runs scored.

The Chargers were looking to continue their run in the tournament when they took on the top seed from the north, New York Mills last night, Tuesday in Fergus Falls. A win would advance them to the title game on Thursday in Fergus Falls.

GAME STATISTICS

HANCOCK 021 011 6 – 11 12 2

BE 401 206 X – 13 12 3

BRANDON-EVANSVILLE PITCHING – Brandt Bitzan – 4IP, 3H, 3ER, 2SO; Josh Goehringer – W, 2IP, 7H, 6ER, 2SO; Lund – 1IP, 1H

BRANDON-EVANSVILLE HITTING – Hintermeister – 2-4, 3 runs; Juul – 2-3, 2B, 1 run; Lund – 2-3, HR, 2B, 4 RBI, 3 runs; Bitzan – 2-4, 2B, 3 RBI; Bartholomew – 2-4, 2B, 1 run; Mitch Anderson – 1-2, 1 run, RBI; Goehringer – 1-3, 1 run

CGB 200 210 0 – 5 8 5

BE 111 500 0 – 8 12 2

BRANDON-EVANSVILLE PITCHING – Lund – W, 7IP, 8H, 5SO

BRANDON-EVANSVILLE HITTING – Lund – 3-4, 2B, 2 RBI; Dan Schaffer – 2-3, 2B, 2 RBI; Bartholomew – 2-3, HR, 2 runs; Goehringer – 1-3, 2B, 1 run; Hintermeister – 1B; Juul – 1B; Sean Henneman – 1B; Anderson – 1B

Tags: brandon evansville sports, area sports, sports, baseball, chargers, section, 6a