GRANITE FALLS -- Granite Falls didn't give up any earned runs, but Bird Island feasted on Granite Falls' four errors to collect a 5-1 win in the first round of the Cornbelt South amateur baseball playoffs Wednesday.
The Islanders, the No. 5 seed will play at top-seeded Milroy on Friday at 7:30 p.m. Another Cornbelt South playoff game Friday will see No. 2 Raymond hosting No. 3 Sacred Heart at 7:30 p.m.
Bird Island took a slim 2-1 lead into the ninth before plating three insurance runs. Brad Gass singled to lead off the inning and after a strikeout, Shawn Dollerschell reached on an error to give the Islanders two runners. Andy Dollerschell followed with a two-run double and Jesse Bjur would later cap the scoring with an RBI single.
Greg Helin worked the first eight innings to pick up the win, allowing just five hits without issuing a walk. Eric Gass closed out the game by hurling a 1-2-3 ninth.
Ben Aaseth opened the scoring with a fielder's choice in the first and Bjur added to the Islanders' lead with an RBI single in the fifth. Bjur was 3-for-5 along with Luke Kramer as the Islanders outhit Granite Falls, 11-5.
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The Kilowatts produced their only run in the fifth when Chad Listul singled in Cam Vien, who had led off the inning with a base hit.
Bird Island 5, Granite Falls 1
Bird Island 100 010 003 -- 5 11 1
Granite Falls 000 010 000 -- 1 5 4
HITTING - Bird Island: Dylan Gass 1-for-5; Shawn Dollerschell 1-for-5; Andy Dollerschell 1-for-2, 2b, 2 rbi; Ben Aaseth 1-for-5, rbi; Jesse Bjur 3-for-5, 2 rbi; Luke Kramer 3-for-5, 2b; Brad Gass 1-for-1 ... Granite Falls: James Gallagher 1-for-4, 2b; Jeremy Wieland 1-for-4; Cam Vien 1-for-2; Tyler Flattum 1-for-3; Chad Listul 1-for-3, rbi
PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) -- Bird Island: Greg Helin (W) 8-5-1-1-0-3; Eric Gass 1-0-0-0-0-0 ... Granite Falls: Tyler Kanten (L) 8 1/3-11-5-0-3-5, Curt Kvam 2/3-0-0-0-0-1
