WILLMAR -- A single run in the first inning would be all Jeremy Hinderks of Sacred Heart needed to lift the Saints to a 4-0 win over Willmar in the Cornbelt South League playoffs Sunday.
Hinderks held the Rails (11-7) to five hits and struck out 11 without issuing a walk.
Mitch Schwindt started the game with a single and scored on Mike Kuschel's double to put Sacred Heart ahead 1-0.
Willmar's only threat came in the second inning, when Cory Schwantes led off with a single and got as far as third base. Otherwise, the Rails only had one base runner reach as far as second base in the final seven innings.
The Saints, who will play Raymond in the loser's bracket final Friday, added a single run in the fourth and two more in the sixth.
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Kuschel, Hinderks, Mike Johnson and Josh Hebrink had two hits each for Sacred Heart.
Jason Scheffler took the loss for the Rails, allowing all four runs in six innings. He struck out three and walked three. Darin Ditterich threw the last three innings, striking out one and walk one.
Sacred Heart 4, Willmar 0
Sacred Heart 100 102 000 -- 4 11 2
Willmar 000 000 000 -- 0 5 0
HITTING - Sacred Heart: Mitch Schwindt 1-for-4; Tyler Kleinhuizen 1-for-5; Mike Kuschel 2-for-5, 2b, rbi; Jeremy Hinderks 2-for-3, 2b; Andy Erickson 1-for-4; Mike Johnson 2-for-3, rbi; Matt Koenen 1-for-3, rbi; Josh Hebrink 2-for-4, rbi ... Willmar: Tyler Horning 1-for-4, Matt Sagedahl 1-for-4; Jordan Olson 1-for-4; Cory Schwantes 1-for-4; Ross Van Hauen 1-for-4
PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) -- Sacred Heart: Jeremy Hinderks (W) 9-5-0-0-0-11 ... Willmar: Jason Scheffler (L) 6-8-4-4-3-3, Darin Ditterich 3-3-0-0-1-1
