Region 16C baseball: Late homer lifts Bluedogs to title

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The Brandon-Evansville Bluedogs will enter the state tournament as Region 16C champions after winning a 4-2 game against Pelican Rapids in the region title game this past weekend.

The Bluedogs drafted Alexandria’s Collin Modahl to help out their pitching staff in the postseason. He did just that with a complete-game performance as Brandon-Evansville scored three in the eighth to get him a win.

Modahl was strong throughout but trailed 2-1 after six innings. Jan-Erik Lindberg got a two-run single in the top of that frame as the Lakers erased what had been a 1-0 deficit.

The Bluedogs answered back in the bottom of the eighth. Chris Shea got things going with a leadoff walk. That set the stage for second baseman Lee Nelson. The Bluedogs got a dramatic home run against Pelican Rapids last week when Ryan Hendrickson set his team to the title game with a walk-off three-run shot.

This time it was Nelson who broke the Lakers’ hearts with a home run in the late innings. He deposited the first pitch he saw over the right-field fence to give Brandon-Evansville the lead. Brent Meissner added another home run two batters later as the Bluedogs took a 4-2 lead.

Modahl made sure that stood up in the top of the ninth. He set down the Lakers in order, getting Alex Johnson to go down looking for the final out. Modahl scattered just six hits and one walk, while striking out 11.

Nate Meissner was named the Region 16C tournament MVP after the game. He went 1-for-4 with a run scored in the championship to help his team to the title.

Brandon-Evansville will now turn its attention to the Class C state tournament. The Bluedogs open up with the Region 11 runner-up when they take on Raymond at 7:30 p.m. this Saturday in Brownton.

The first two rounds are single elimination before it turns to a double-elimination format in the quarterfinals. A win for the Bluedogs would advance them to a second-round match-up on August 27 at 1:30 p.m. in Glencoe.

GAME STATISTICS

LAKERS 000 002 000 – 2 6 1

BLUEDOGS 100 000 03X – 4 6 1

BLUEDOGS PITCHING – Modahl – W, 9IP, 6H, 2R, 2ER, 1BB, 11SO

BLUEDOGS HITTING – Shea – 0-2, 2 BB, 1 run; Nate Meissner – 1-4, 1 run; Lee Nelson – 2-4, HR, 1 run, 3 RBI; Monte Hinzmann – 1-4; Brent Meissner – 1-4, HR, 1 run, RBI; Travis Santjer – 0-4; Michael Bruns – 0-3; Matt Bruns – 0-2, BB; Josh Meissner – 1-3

Tags: brandon evansville sports, area sports, sports, bluedog, baseball, region, 16c