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On Sunday at Union Hill the game was a slow paced contest but the Braves came up with a lopsided win. 

Chip Schloesser scored the game’s first run in the first inning as he walked and Tim Palmquist and Lynn Schwarz followed with singles. 

Three runs scored in the third as Schloesser singled, Schwarz walked, Dustin Gibbs singled, Russ Ehlers and Steve Biehn both walked, and Shawn Boyle was hit by a pitch. 

The Braves broke the game open scoring five times in the fifth when Ken Schmidt singled, Chad Blaschko and Boyle walked, Chad Anderson hit into a fielder’s choice, Schloesser reached on an error, Palmquist singled, Schwarz walked, and Gibbs singled. 

The Braves got four insurance runs in the sixth as Russ Ehlers singled, Blaschko doubled,

Boyle singled, Schloesser and Schwarz walked, Gibbs singled and Grant Anderson walked. 

Schmidt started on the hill, pitching four innings, allowing no runs on two hits with three strikeouts.  Ehlers hurled two innings of relief, yielding one run on two walks and a hit by pitch, with two strikeouts. 

The Braves finish their 2009 season going 5-10 in River Valley League play and 8-12 for the year.  They look forward to the 2010 season with several roster spots available.

Saturday at Belle Plaine, the Braves scored five runs in the top of the second inning and it held up for a 5-2 victory over the Urbank Goldtimers. 

Chip Schloesser led of with a single, Tim Palmquist was hit by a pitch, Dustin Gibbs reached on an infield error, Lynn Schwarz singled, Shawn Boyle reached on a fielder’s choice as the catcher dropped the ball on a play at the plate.  With two out, Chad Blaschko reached on an infield error. 

Schwarz got the complete game win scattering six hits, with one walk and eight strikeouts.

Sunday at the Union Hill field the weather was beautiful but the game was quite ugly.  Both teams had many errors, walks and runners left on base.  Fergus Falls survived to move on in the championship bracket of Class B. 

The Braves jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second when Dustin Gibbs reached second on a double error by the Ancient shortstop.  Tim Palmquist walked and Lynn Schwarz singled home Gibbs.  Chad Blaschko walked to load the bases.  Chad Anderson singled home Palmquist, Schwarz scored as the left fielder mishandled the ball and then proceeded to throw out Blaschko at the plate. 

The locals added a lone seventh as Chip Schloesser walked and went to second on a wild pitch.  He advanced to third as Gibbs reached on an error by the right fielder and score as Palmquist hit into a fielder’s choice. 

Winning pitcher, Brian Jacobson, got the complete game win for Fergus Falls yielding five hits and six walks, with two strikeouts. 

Lynn Schwarz also went the distance allowing nine hits, six walks, one hit by pitch and fanning seven.

The Braves opened state tournament play Saturday on the winning side of a tight contest at Jordan’s Mini-met. The win earned them the #5 seed in the Class “B” tournament.

The Braves opened the scoring in the first inning when Chad Anderson reached second on a throwing error by the Bomber third baseman.  Dean Vlasak plated Anderson he also reached on a throwing error by the Bomber’s third baseman. 

In the third, Dustin Gibbs reached on an infield error and Paul Factor singled.  Gibbs scored when Ken Schmidt reached on an infield error. 

The Braves had just two hits off of Bomber hurler Scott Hanson, who walked one and fanned one. 

Ken Schmidt got the complete game shutout, allowing three hits, with one walk and three strikeouts.

The Braves were trailing 3-0 at Webster before putting together productive fifth and sixth innings to take the lead and bring home the victory. 

In the fifth, Mike Nelson walked and Chad Blaschko was plunked by a pitch.  After a fielder’s choice Chip Schloesser walked to load the bases.  With two outs, Grant Anderson walked and Shawn Boyle cleared the bases with a double to right field. 

In the sixth the Braves plated five big runs when Ken Schmidt walked, Blaschko and Chad Anderson both doubled, Lynn Schwarz and Grant Anderson both walked, Boyle was hit by a pitch, Russ Ehlers walked and Schmidt singled. 

Schmidt went the distance on the mound allowing four runs, scattering twelve hits and issuing three free passes.

Waconia nipped the Braves 1-0 in a quickly played game. Collin Bender and Lynn Schwarz locked up in a pitcher’s duel played in one hour and ten minutes. 

Bender limited the Braves to three scattered hits, all singles, by Shawn Boyle, Russ Ehlers and Ken Schmidt.  Schwarz looked very sharp allowing just five hits and fanning five Islander hitters.  

The Islander’s lone run came in the third inning, combining a single with a run scoring double.

In their final home game of the season the Braves held the lead for five innings before the walls caved in.  The Vulcans pounded out 14 hits but the Braves also contributed eight errors (ouch!).

Ken Schmidt started on the hill, going five innings and allowing nine runs on twelve hits with three walks and two strikeouts.   Pete Plut hurled two innings of relief allowing five runs on two hits and seven walks while fanning four. 

The Braves scored five times in the second inning as Dustin Gibbs doubled and Shawn Boyle and Schmidt walked to load the bases.  With two out, Chad Blaschko walked,

Chad Anderson doubled to clear the bases and Chip Schloesser singled home Anderson. 

The locals scored a lone run in the fourth inning when Schmidt singled and Paul Factor doubled.  At that point, home grown hurler, Jerry Anderson, relieved for the Vulcans and put a lid on the Brave’s scoring for the night.

There seemed to be two themes to the game.  Where you hit the ball is more important than how hard you hit it and the importance of stringing your hits together.  Bloomington did a better job in both areas. 

The Eagles scored two in the first on three hits, four in the third on three hits, one in the fourth on two errors and a hit and two in the sixth on three hits. 

The Braves had a nice rally in the third cut short by a line out – double play.  Ken Schmidt led off with a single, Dean Vlasak doubled, Chad Anderson, Chip Schloesser and Lynn Schwarz all singled in consecutive at bats.  Dustin Gibbs walked, so the bases were loaded with three runs in.  Shawn Boyle hit a line drive snared by a diving first baseman who doubled Schwarz off second base. 

The Braves did have other opportunities but couldn’t come through with the key hit when needed. 

Schwarz hurled all seven innings.  He allowed eleven hits, yielding five walks with five strikeouts.

The lone Brave’s run came in the second inning as Dustin Gibbs walked and Shawn Boyle singled.  After a Lynn Schwarz fielder’s choice, Boyle scored as Ken Schmidt reached on an error by the third baseman.

Schmidt took the complete game loss allowing those seven runs on eleven hits, with two free passes and eleven strikeouts.

Lynn Schwarz was locked up in a pitcher’s duel with the game scoreless after seven innings. 

The top of the eighth saw the Brave’s put a welcomed three runs on the board.  Rob Gentz walked, and Chad Blaschko singled.  Troy Clement reached on an error. Chip Schloesser singled, Tim Palmquist reached on a fielder’s choice and Dean Vlasak singled.

In their half of the eighth, the Chiefs scored a run and had two base runners on when the final out was recorded.

Schwarz got the complete game win allowing one run, scattering six hits while walking on one and fanning one.

The Braves took the lead in the bottom on the first when Chad Anderson walked, went to second on Chip Schloesser’s single and scored on a single by Tim Palmquist.

The lead held until Belle Plaine scored two in the fourth and three in the fifth off Brave start Ken Schmidt. He allowed those five runs on eight hits, a walk and two strikeouts.

The locals came back with a run in the sixth as Lynn Schwarz singled and Palmquist and Pete Plut worked free passes to load the bases.  Schwarz scored Paul Factor’s fielder’s choice.

The Tigers blew the game open with six runs in the seventh.  Plut allowed six runs on two hits, seven walks and two hit batsmen while fanning three in three innings of relief.

The Braves threatened to make it close with four runs in the seventh as Dustin Gibbs singled, Schmidt walked, Chad Blaschko walked, Anderson singled, Schloesser walked and Palmquist doubled.

Several Brave’s rallies were crippled by self-infliction as they had thee runners picked off base in the game.

Lynn Schwarz of the Braves and John Weber of the Bombers hooked up in a nice pitcher’s duel on Sunday at Ray Plut field.  The Bombers broke through first putting a three on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth inning.  They did string four consecutive hits along with a Brave error to take the lead. 

In the Brave’s sixth inning Chip Schloesser singled as did Schwarz.  Shawn Boyle forced Schwarz at second, moving Schloesser to third.  After Boyle stole second, Pete Plut struck out but the ball got away from the catcher.  The catcher’s throw to first got Plut at first but Schloesser scored ahead of the return throw to the plate. 

Ken Schmidt led off the seventh with a single and Mark Simon walked.  Mike Nelson advanced both runners on his ground out.  Chad Blaschko plated Schmidt with a ground out to first.  Chad Anderson singled home Simon.  After Anderson stole second, Schloesser was intentionally walked to set up a force at any bag.  Schwarz proceeded to hit the first pitch up the middle for the walk off win.  

Schwarz got the complete game win allowing six hits, while walking three and fanning seven.

The Braves could only muster two singles, by Chad Blaschko and Pete Plut, against the right handed slants of Tom Stierlen.   He gave three free passes but had ten strikeouts enroute to the shutout win. 

The Saints scored two in the first on a clutch two out single by Scott Zeiher.  They added an insurance run in the seventh as John Landkammer doubled and latter scored on an infield groundout. 

Ken Schmidt took the complete game loss allowing six hits, walking three, hitting two and fanning five.

The Braves broke open a tight game with three runs in the fifth and five runs in the sixth.

They used their eight hits and multiple stolen bases to take advantage of Hawk’s pitcher’s wildness.  Ten free passes and two hit by pitch aided the locals cause. 

Troy Clement scored three times. Chad Blaschko led the hit parade, going three for four with a double and three runs scored. 

Lynn Schwarz pitched the complete game win.  He finished strong, allow three runs, nine hits, walking and hitting one, while fanning nine.

Dave Hagene scattered four Brave hits while Union Hill pounded their way to the ten-run-rule shortened victory.  Chad Blaschko had two of those four hits. 

Pete Plut started on the hill, yielding nine runs on eight hits, three walks and two strikeouts in two and one-third innings.  Ken Schmidt allowed six runs, on six hits, a walk, hit a batter, while fanning four in two and two-thirds innings of relief.

The locals traveled to Hanska to take on the 2008 Class AA Champs.  The Bullheads pounded out 13 hits on their way to the shutout victory.  In a week of feast or famine, Chip Schloesser again had the Brave’s lone hit. 

Lynn Schwarz took the hill and yielded ten runs on thirteen hits, two walks with three strikouts.  Ken Schmidt tossed one inning of scoreless relief with one strikeout.

The Braves broke loose for eleven runs in the fourth inning on their way to a lopsided win over the Alers at the Mini-Met in Jordan.  Chad Blaschko, Dean Vlasak, Lynn Schwarz and Robby Gentz led the hit parade with two each.  Blaschko scored four runs while Troy Clement tallied three times. 

Pete Plut pitched four strong innings allowing just two hits and three walks while fanning five.

Clement hurled two innings giving up two runs on two hits and a free pass with two strikeouts.  Vlasak closed out an inning of relief with an unusual four strikeouts.

Allowing no baserunner past second, Troy Mahoney kept the Brave’s bats in check tossing a one-hitter.  Chip Schloesser had the Brave’s lone single in the sixth inning.  

Lynn Schwarz started on the hill for Le Center, allowing four runs, five hits, a walks with two strikeouts in five innings of work.  Russ Ehlers pitched two innings, allowing one hit and a walk with a strikeout. Four Brave errors aided the Miller cause.