SUTTON – Fronter Bank Post 55 (Pender) stayed in it until the end, but St. Paul pulled away late in a 5-4 victory to open the Class C State Tournament.
The game was tied at four in the top of the seventh before Mason Majerus singled to score the eventual wining run.
Pender were the first to get on the board when an error scored a run in the second before tacking on three straight runs in the fifth on three seperate singles.
St. Paul flipped the game on its head in the top of the seventh, scoring five runs on four hits to take a 5-4 lead. The biggest blow was a Alex Meinecke single that drove in two runs.
Tyler Olson opened the game for Pender on the pitcher’s mound, surrendering two hits with two walks and five strikeouts over 4.2 innings worked.
Braxton Heater led things off for St. Paul on the bump, giving up two runs (one earned) on a hit with four walks and a strikeout over 4.2 innings.
Olson drove the middle of the lineup for Pender, bringing home two runs on a 1-for-3 effort. Olson, Owen Kneifl and Ross Tremayne each colleted a hit for Pender while Alex Roth drew three walks.