ABOVE: Spencer Chirpich reaches up to throw a pitch for Fairmont during a regular season amateur baseball game in Hadley. File photo by Jake McNeil/Marshall Independent.
LUVERNE – The Fairmont Martins defeated the Luverne Redbirds 11-6 in game three of the Region 13C championship series at Redbird Field on Sunday to earn a bye into the first round of this year’s state tournament.
“Before the game, we knew we were going to need a lot of pitching to get through it and that’s exactly what we did,” Martins manager/player Levi Becker said. “Matt Lytle pitched two, almost three innings and then it was right on to the next guy. Paxton (Gravlin) pitched his two innings really well and then Spencer (Chiprich) came in, he threw almost five innings after three days off and then Derek (Shoen) came in to finish it off, but you know, it’s just back and forth. It really felt like a state tournament game. Luverne is a really good team.”
At the start of the 12th inning with the score tied 6-6, the Martins got going with a leadoff single by Luke Becker. A single by Chirpich followed immediately before the Redbirds intentionally walked Shoen to load the bases.
Lincoln Becker was brought home on a walk, allowing Luke Becker to score the first run of the inning. Levi Becker hit a single to left, bringing Chirpich home before Shoen scored another run on a wild pitch. Lincoln Becker then scored on another wild pitch before a single by Arnaldo Malave brought Levi Becker home for the final run.
Shoen was able to shut out the Rebirds in the bottom half of the inning to secure the Region 13C championship and a bye in the first round of the state tournament.
In the first inning, Luke Becker opened the game with a triple before a groundout by Chirpich brought Luke Becker home for the first and only run of the inning. The Martins retired the team in order and ended the inning quickly.
Both the Martins and the Redbirds showed solid defense in the second inning, with neither team able to score another run.
The Redbirds managed to stop the Martins’ offense in the third inning, allowing a single hit to Shoen before a groundout knocked the defense off the field. The Redbirds started with a groundout before a series of hits brought home two runs and gave them a 2-1 lead.
The Martins were unable to respond again in the fourth inning after two consecutive walks left two on base. The Redbirds were able to extend their lead and add a run to their tally in the fourth inning before the Martins defense was able to end the inning with a 3-1 deficit.
In the fifth inning, the Martins were able to get back into the scoring game with an early walk for Chirpich, who was then brought home by a Shoen double with a ground ball to center for the first run of the inning. Lincoln Becker scored the second and final run of the inning with an RBI single to right, tying the game at 3-3. The Martins defense held the Redbirds at bay in the bottom half of the inning and kept the tie alive until the next inning.
In the sixth inning, the Martins extended their lead by two runs. A single by Lance Becker gave the Martins the first baserunner of the inning, followed by a walk by Ethan Hurn and Chirpich. A passed ball allowed both Hurn and Chirpich to score, making the game 5-3. The Martins’ defense allowed a run, making the score 5-4 in the seventh inning.
The Martins had two baserunners thanks to a couple of walks, but were unable to capitalize and ended the first half of the seventh inning without extending their lead. In the second half of the seventh inning, the Redbirds were able to score a run of their own and tie the game at 5-5.
In the eighth inning, Hurn struck out to open the inning for the Martins. Luke Becker followed with a deep home run to center field to restore the Martins’ lead at 6-5. The Redbirds answered with a run of their own to tie the game before a fly ball into a double play made it 6-6.
Neither team was able to score in the ninth, tenth or eleventh innings as the defenses held strong. The Martins were able to pull off the win in the twelfth inning.
The Martins’ next game is on August 24 against the winner of the game between the Farming Flames and the Maple Lake Lakers.
