Zumbrota-Mazeppa senior Nathan Tiedke made three sparkling defensive plays at shortstop in the seventh inning to preserve the Cougars' 11-10 win over Byron on Monday in a Hiawatha Valley League baseball game played in Zumbrota.
The Cougars lead the HVL Blue Division at 7-1, 11-1 overall. They play a key game today at Cannon Falls, which is in second place in the division. The loss for Byron makes the Bears 5-4 in the HVL Gold Division, 7-6 overall.
None of Tiedke's plays in the top of the seventh were routine, said Z-M coach Mike Matuska. He backhanded one of the ground balls, and he was behind second base when he fielded a grounder off the bat of Travis O'Brien and threw to first base for the final out.
"He showed a lot of range," Matuska said of the four-year varsity starter. "Defensively, we made the plays we had to."
Z-M took a 7-5 lead in the bottom of the third inning on a run-scoring single by Kyle Frederixon and a bases-loaded triple by Tiedke. The Cougars never trailed after that.
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Bob LaDue scored the winning run from third base in the bottom of the fifth on a play in which teammate Andy Rude got caught in a rundown. LaDue got three hits in the game, including a double. Rude batted 2-for-2 with a double.
For Byron, Bryce Fogelson and Mike Rahlf got three hits each, with Rahlf getting two doubles.
HIAWATHA VALLEY LEAGUE
Cannon Falls 16, Hayfield 10
Hayfield gave host Cannon Falls trouble in a game needed by the Bombers as they try to catch Zumbrota-Mazeppa for the lead of the Hiawatha Valley League Blue Division. Cannon Falls plays host to Z-M today. Hayfield reached Bombers pitchers for nine hits and held an 8-5 lead in the fourth inning. Cannon Falls got 16 hits and committed three errors, with Cody Lopez hitting a double and a home run. Nick Demaria got three hits for Hayfield.
Winona Cotter 3, K.-W. 0
Matt O'Brien tossed a no-hitter and struck out 11 to guide the Ramblers in Kenyon. O'Brien hit the first batter he faced with a pitch, then retired the rest of the K-W batters in order.
O'Brien and Brian Wanek each had two hits for Cotter.
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Stewartville 7, Pine Island 2
All seven of the Tigers' runs were unearned in Pine Island. The biggest blow came in the sixth inning when Mike Lakour blasted a pinch-hit three-run homer. Stewartville was leading 3-2 at the time. Matt Gordon got the pitching win, allowing six hits and three walks while striking out 12. John Langins had a two-run single for Pine Island in the fourth inning.
Triton 11, Kasson-Mantorville 10
Triton scored 11 runs on eight hits and took advantage of six K-M errors in Dodge Center. Two KoMets errors in the bottom of the seventh allowed the Cobras to come from behind, as they scored three runs for the win.
THREE RIVERS CONFERENCE
Plainview 5, Chatfield 4 (9 innings)
Plainview's Tommy Bastian and Matt Steffen were both 3-for-5 and they opened the bottom of the ninth with singles to set up the winning run.
After a walk loaded the bases in the ninth, Tony Hassig hit a hard grounder that the first baseman snared, but Bastian beat the throw home for the winning run.
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Steffen pitched a complete-game four-hitter for the victory, striking out eight. Plainview is 3-5 overall, 3-4 in the Three Rivers.Steve Opat's RBI single had given Chatfield a 4-3 lead in the fifth inning. Plainview tied the game in the bottom of the frame to force extra innings.
St. Charles 9, Elgin-Millville 4
Three St. Charles batters –; John Morris, Reggie Stevens and Kyle Williamson –; got home runs to help keep the Saints undefeated in nine outings. Morris jacked a three-run homer in the first inning. Mike Kohn scattered four hits, striking out five and walking one Elgin-Millville's Joe Appel hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning. Both teams had five errors.
W-K 12, Lewiston-Altura 5
Lewiston-Altura 5, Wabasha-Kellogg 3
Josh Passe and Drew Glomski both had two hits and a home run for Wabasha-Kellogg in the opener. Passe hit a solo homer and Glomski hit a two-run shot. James Husk was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.
Cory Bartz was 2-for-3 with a two-run homer for Lewiston-Altura (4-5 overall, Three Rivers) in the opener. Tyler Schultz was 3-for-4 with an RBI in the nightcap for L-A and Joel Ziebell was 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Dover-Eyota 14, Goodhue 4
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Aaron Miller drove in five runs in the game, played in Goodhue. He hit a three-run homer and a double.
Ben Barsre batted 4-for-4 with a home run and a double. Scott Schreiber drove in three runs. And Adam Brandt got three hits. He also earned the win, giving up three earned runs. Brett Voth got two hits, including a double, for Goodhue.
NON-CONFERENCE
Caledonia 2, Fillmore Central 1
Caledonia 7, Fillmore Central 6
Caledonia swept a non-conference doubleheader on the road.
Joe Ingvalson struck out 10 in the opener and pitched a four-hitter.
Ryan Gerardy and Ingvalson both had a pair of hits for Caledonia.
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Jess Larimer pitched a five-hitter, but suffered the loss. Tyler Bestor had two hits for Fillmore Central.
In the second game, Gerardy (two-run) and Pete Schiltz (solo) both hit home runs for Caledonia (5-1).
Gerardy also had the game-winning single in the bottom of the sixth inning. Luke Middendorf and Josh Conway had two hits each for Caledonia.
Tom Tribon and Jeff Johnson each had two hits for Fillmore Central (3-4).
