The Alexandria Black Sox won their first Class C Amateur State Baseball tournament game in team history in improbable fashion on Saturday night in Waconia.
With the bases loaded in the bottom of the 11th inning, Chris Curry was hit by a pitch to push in a run and lift Alexandria over the Kimball Express, 2-1. The bases were loaded when a pitch hit Blake Stockert to lead off the inning before Carter Stockert was also hit by a pitch. Brett Savelkoul walked to set up Curry's big moment.
Kimball's Ben Johnson was terrific on the mound. Through eight innings, he allowed just one hit and struck out 12. In the bottom of the ninth, Travis Kreuger got on base with a single before Blake Stockert was hit by a pitch. Eric Carlsen singled to load the bases with one out.
Jordan Joseph relieved Johnson and struck out Carter Stockert. Down to the last out trailing 1-0, Savelkoul drove in a run with a single before Blake Stockert was thrown out at home trying to score the winning run.
In the top of the 11th, Brooks Marquardt reached base on a throwing error, the first for either team. After a wild pitch, Marquardt was tagged out at second base after sliding over the bag. Kimball's Austin Ruehle would single a few pitches later.
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Blake Stockert went six innings and struck out five batters. He allowed six hits and one earned run. Ethan Haskamp earned the win for the Black Sox with seven strikeouts and two hits allowed. Marquardt was the bulk of Kimball's offense with a 3-for-5 day and an RBI single.
Alexandria is set to face Maple Lake on Saturday at 4 p.m. in Chaska in a rematch of last year's first-round game. Maple Lake knocked off the Jordan Brewers 2-0.