BIRD ISLAND -- Raymond pounded out 17 hits and beat Lake Henry 11-6 in the first round of the state Class C amateur baseball game Saturday.
The Rockets (31-6) will play Blue Earth in a second-round game at 11 a.m. next Saturday in Willmar. The winner of that game advances to the double-elimination portion of the tournament.
"We hit the ball well, but we didn't the big hit," said Raymond manager Butch Steen. "The key for us was we played some very good defense."
Raymond started with three runs in the first inning, then exploded for seven in the third. The Rockets had four straight hits and Jason Meyer's two-run single highlighted the attack.
Tyler Knott went the first 5.2 innings for the win. He allowed five runs on eight hits, struck out five and walked four. Josh Hadley, a draftee from Milroy, finished the game, giving up a three-run home run to former Ridgewater catcher Shane Kampsen in the sixth.
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Tyler Steen, Mike Jeseritz and Jordan Smith each collected three hits to lead the Rockets. Jed Nelson, Jason Meyer and Ben Ruter followed with two hits each.
Atwater's Justin Schroeder, a draftee for Lake Henry pitched the last seven innings, allowing 10 hits but only three runs.
Raymond 11, Lake Henry 6
Raymond 307 010 000 --11 17 0
Lake Henry 030 003 000 -- 6 9 2
HITTING - Raymond: Tyler Steen 3-for-6, rbi; Jed Nelson 2-for-5, 2b; Matt Bauer 1-for-3, 2 rbi; Mike Jeseritz 3-for-5, rbi; Jordan Smith 3-for-6, rbi; Jason Meyer 2-for-5, 3 rbi; Ben Ruter 2-for-5, rbi; Zach Nelson 1-for-5 ... Lake Henry: Shane Kampsen 1-for-4, 3-run HR, 3 rbi; Johnny Lieser 2-for-5, 2b, rbi; Mike Stalboerger 2-for-4; Cory Nietfeld 1-for-4, rbi
PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) -- Raymond: Tyler Knott (W) 5.2-8-5-5-4-5; Josh Hadley 3.1-1-1-1-0-3 ... Lake Henry: Scott Lieser (L) 2-7-8-7-1-2; Justin Schroeder 7-10-3-2-1-4
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