Rockets fail to launch at state

By Tribune Sports

August 20, 2006 at 11:00 PM

RED WING -- St. Patrick rallied for a run in the bottom of the eighth to beat Raymond 1-0 in the first round of the state Class C amateur baseball tournament Saturday.

The Rockets, who were eliminated with the loss, finish the season with a 31-13 record.

This opening-round game in the single-elimination part of the tournament became a pitcher's duel from the outset, matching Raymond's Mark Krogstad, a draftee from Willmar, and St. Patrick's Bill Dunker.

Krogstad, a left-hander, baffled St. Patrick through 62/3 innings, striking out 10 and walking three while only giving up three hits.

"He just did a super job for us," said Rockets manager Butch Steen. "He got a little tired in the seventh and gave up two hits."

Nate Hebrink ended the threat in the seventh.

In the eighth, Hebrink was set to keep the game scoreless, getting the first two batters out. But Matt Texa singled and Jeff Bjecke doubled to the gap to score the game's only run.

Raymond threatened in the ninth with two runners on, but grounded out to end the game.

"We've just have had trouble scoring runs," Steen said. "Kyle Knott wasn't back 100 percent yet. He's such a big part of our offense."

The power-swinging designated hitter led the Rockets with 12 home runs and 55 RBI.

Raymond had one other major threat to score in the second. With two runners on, Zach Nelson singled but St. Patrick caught Mike Jeseritz between third and home to end the inning.

St. Patrick 1, Raymond 0

RAYMOND ST. PATRICK

ab r h bi ab r h bi

Kluver cf 4 0 1 0 Simon cf 3 0 0 0

JNelson 3b 4 0 1 0 Gldschmdt lf 4 0 0 0

Knott dh 3 0 0 0 Texa c 4 1 1 0

Koewler 1b 0 0 0 0 Bjecke dh 4 0 1 1

Kragenbrng c 4 0 0 0 Johnson 1b 4 0 1 0

Meyer ss 3 0 0 0 Boser 3b 2 0 1 0

Jeseritz lf 3 0 0 0 Shuhneckt 2b 3 0 0 0

Thissen lf 0 0 0 0 Ambroze rf 3 0 1 0

DeBoer rf 3 0 2 0 Almsch ss 3 0 1 0