The outlook was downright bleak for the NRHEG High School baseball team entering tournament play.
After a strong start, the Panthers had struggled much of the season, compiling a 6-11 record and drawing the No. 7 seed in the south half of Section 2AA, earning the right to play at Gopher Conference champion and No. 2 seeded WEM. Add to that the fact NRHEG had not won a playoff game since this year’s seniors were in sixth grade.
Easy win for the Bucs, right? Wrong.
The Panthers pulled off the upset, hammering the home team 10-4 Friday, May 22 at Waterville.
The Panthers advanced to the double-elimination portion of the tournament and play Tuesday, May 26 at Waseca. Win or lose, the Panthers play Friday, May 28 at the site of the higher seeded team.
The Panthers finished the regular season Tuesday, May 19 with a 5-2 loss to Blue Earth Area at Legion Field.
NRHEG 10, WEM 4
Trevor Tracy went the distance on the mound for NRHEG, giving up seven hits in seven innings while holding a high scoring WEM team to four runs.
NRHEG took the lead in the second when Cole Staloch scored from third when WEM made a play on a stealing runner at second. WEM answered with two in the third, but NRHEG responded with four runs in the fourth. The rally was led by Staloch and Tracy, each with RBI singles.
WEM inched closer in the fifth, scoring an unearned run against Tracy. In the top of the seventh, NRHEG was able to plate five more runs to push its lead to seven. The Panthers led off the seventh with three straight singles by Tracy, John Hubly and Matt Jensen. Grant Kyllo had a big two-out, two-run double to end the scoring for the Panthers. WEM was able to score one more run in the bottom of the seventh before Tracy recorded the final out.
Staloch was 3-for-4 with two runs, Tracy 2-for-3 with a triple, Kyllo 2-for-3. Palmer Peterson added a hit.
The WEM head coach was ejected from the game.
Blue Earth Area 5, NRHEG 2
The Panthers dropped a nonconference game at New Richland to end the regular season.
Tracy and Trai Wicks were 2-for-4. Adding one hit each were Hubly, Jensen and Staloch.
Jensen was the losing pitcher, giving up five earned runs on eight hits. He walked six and struck out three.