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The Luverne baseball team won two big games in the past week to advance to the Section 3AA Championship game.
The Cardinals beat Paynesville 2-1 on May 30 and Fairmont 2-1 on June 3 at Legion Field in Marshall.
Luverne will return to Marshall Thursday to take on the winner of the elimination bracket between Fairmont and Paynesville. Game time is 5 p.m.
LHS 2, Paynesville 1
The Cardinals defeated Paynesville 2-1 in Section 3AA play Tuesday, May 30, at Legion Field in Marshall.
Luverne scored first in the bottom of the first inning when Conner Connell singled on a fly ball to center field to score Carter Sehr from third base.
LHS added one more run in the sixth inning when Elliot Domagala scored on an Alex Schlosser single.
Going into the seventh inning, Luverne had a 2-0 lead with one inning to play.
Paynesville was able to add one run in the top of the seventh only to come up one run short.
The Cardinals left six players on base and committed three errors in the game.
Connell pitched a full game, going seven innings, allowing one run on four hits, and striking out seven batters.
LHS 2, Fairmont 1
Luverne snatched a 2-1 victory from Fairmont in Section 3AA semifinal play Saturday, June 3, in Marshall.
With the game tied 1-1 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Luverne had one out, and Fairmont intentionally walked Sehr.
Riley Sneller came to the plate and got behind in the count, looking at two strikes.
Sneller then fouled two balls to stay alive in the count.
With a crack of the bat Sneller singled on a ground ball to left field, scoring Schlosser for the winning run.
The dugout emptied as the Cardinals ran to first base to celebrate their victory.
“It has been awesome to watch this team come together throughout the course of our season,” head coach Phil Paquette said.
The Cardinals did not commit one error in the game and only allowed six hits by Fairmont.
Fairmont also left 10 runners on base in the game, a testament to the defensive play by Luverne and the pitchers being able to shut down several batters.
DeBoer took the mound for LHS, pitching 3 1/3 innings, allowing zero runs on four hits.
Connell came in off the bench to relieve DeBoer, going 3 2/3 innings, giving up one run on two hits, and striking out eight batters.
“In the post season we have been able to get outstanding pitching and solid defensive play,” Paquette said.
“At the plate and on base we have been able to produce just enough runs against good pitching, and we’ll need to continue this type of play to win in big games.”
Paquette is looking forward to a big crowd and great playoff atmosphere at the Section 3AA Championship on Thursday night.
LHS 2, Fairmont 1
BOX Score
FRMN 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1
LHS 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 2
Batting
Luverne AB R H RBI
Sehr 3 0 0 0
Sneller 3 1 1 1
Stroh 2 0 0 0
Connell 3 0 2 0
Serie 3 0 0 1
Domagala 3 0 0 0
Schlosser 3 1 1 0
DeBoer 1 0 0 0
Buss 2 0 0 0
Miller 1 0 0 0
Left on base: 5
TB: Connell 2, Schlosser, Sneller
Pitching
Luverne IP H R ER SO
DeBoer 3.1 4 0 0 3
Connell 3.2 2 1 1 8
Win: Connell
Pitches-Strikes: DeBoer 63-36, Connell 66-42
LHS 2, Paynesville 1
BOX Score
PYNS 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
LHS 1 0 0 0 0 1 x 2
Batting
Luverne AB R H RBI
Sehr 3 1 2 0
Sneller 2 0 0 0
Stroh 3 0 1 0
Connell 3 0 1 1
Domagala 3 1 1 0
Serie 3 0 1 0
Miller 2 0 0 0
Schlosser 3 0 1 1
DeBoer 3 0 0 0
Buss 1 0 0 0
Left on base: 6
TB: Connell, Domagala, Schlosser,
Sehr 2, Serie, Stroh
Pitching
Luverne IP H R ER SO
Connell 7 4 1 0 7
Win: Connell
Pitches-Strikes: Connell 107-73