Cashing in when opportunities present themselves is very key in a baseball game and Waconia did so one more time than the Braves in a 2-1 loss. 

The Braves scored their lone run in the fifth inning when with two out Mark Simota reached on an error by the shortstop, Chad Anderson walked and Jim Rogers came through with an RBI single. 

With the score tied at one in the bottom of the seventh two Islanders reached via an error and a single.  Both runners were advanced on a sacrifice bunt and the runner from third proceeded to score on an infield grounder to end the game. 

Dave Haugland kept the Braves at bay scattering five hits, walking two and hitting one with eight strikeouts.  Lynn Schwarz pitched very well and took the complete game loss, scattering four hits, walking three and hitting one while fanning six.

Season Summary:  The Braves had a positive season finishing 7-9 playing a tough league schedule. Tack on exhibitions and state tournament play and they go 10-11-1 for 2011.  They finished 4th in the Class B state tourney field.

In a MSMABA Class B semi-final game the Braves could muster very little offense.  The Braves bats were held in check on a nifty two-hitter by the Vulcan’s Curt Boltman. 

The Braves had only one runner reach second as Lynn Schwarz singled in the second and advanced on a ground out.  Paul Factor had a fifth inning single to account for their second hit. 

Mike Blaschko pitched a strong complete game allowing just five hits, walking two and fanning five. 

In the first round of the Class B bracket the Braves met the Edina Greys and proceeded to take home a 10-4 victory. 

The Braves got out on the right foot with five big runs in the bottom of the first inning.  Chad Blaschko reached on an infield error, Brent Newman, Jason Hollom, Chip Schloesser, Lynn Schwarz and Tim Palmquist hit consecutive singles.  Mark Simota reached on a fielder’s choice and Shawn Boyle was hit by a pitch. 

Up 5-1 in the bottom of the third, Schloesser doubled to the fence in left.  Schwarz and Pete Plut followed with singles to plate Schloesser. 

In the fifth inning Hollom singled, stole second and scored on a Simota single. 

Leading 7-4, the locals added three big insurances runs in the sixth.  Russ Ehlers walked, Blaschko singled and Chad Anderson reached on a fielder’s choice.  Newman, Hollom and Schloesser followed with consecutive run producing singles. 

Dan Quinlan toed the rubber for Edina allowing 14 Brave hits, four walks, hitting one and fanning three   . 

Simota got the start  and win on the hill for the Braves going five plus allowing four runs on seven hits, five walks and hitting a batter while fanning four.  Plut supplied two innings of scoreless relief allowing no hits, walking one, hitting one along with four strikeouts 

The MSMABA State Tournament started on a high note for the Braves with a 4-2 win over the Nisswa Merchants in a B-C Division opening round game.  The Merchants had a familiar face at shortstop with former LeCenterite Chuck Squires donning the leather. 

The Braves broke the ice in the bottom of the third when Paul Factor singled, stole second and scored on Chad Blaschko’s single.  Blaschko eventually scored on Brent Newman’s singled. 

The locals made it 3-0 in the third when Lynn Schwarz singled.  Tim Palmquist advanced Schwarz to second with a sacrifice bunt and he immediately scored on a single by Mark Simota. 

Nisswa posted a run in the top of the fifth but the Braves replied in the bottom of the frame.  Blaschko singled, Newman and Jason Hollom walked to load the bases.  Blaschko proceeded to scored on a sacrifice fly by Schwarz. 

Schwarz got the complete game win.  He was unusually effectively wild as he took a no-hitter into the seventh inning allowing four walks and he hit three batters.  He did yield two hits in the seventh and did fan nine Merchant hitters in the game. 

Two crooked numbers in the first and sixth inning were enough for the Braves to down Veseli 9-7. 

Five runs crossed the plate in the first when Chad Blaschko doubled, Chad Anderson singled, Brent Newman walked, Lynn Schwarz singled, Tim Palmquist singled,

Chip Schloesser singled, Paul Factor reached on an error and Shawn Boyle singled. 

Trailing 7-5 the locals scored four big runs in the bottom of the sixth.  Jason Hollom singled, Schwarz singled, Palmquist walked, Schloesser singled, Paul Factor reached on a fielder’s choice, stole second and scored as Boyle singled. 

Schwarz started on the hill and went 5 innings allowing seven runs, on seven hits, walking four and fanning three.   Mark Simota pitched 2 innings of relief yielding two hits, walking two with one strikeout.

 The Braves finish league play with a 7 and 9 record.  They are 8,9 and 1 overall.

In an exciting, long game of many walks, bloopers, errors, hits with seeing eyes (by both teams), runners thrown out and a blinding sun at sunset, the Islanders prevailed 11-7.  The Islanders did a better job of capitalizing on opportunities.  The Braves were not as efficient, scoring only seven of twenty-one base runners, with eleven left on base. 

Mike Blaschko went the distance on the hill allowing ten hits, with three strikeouts and four free passes.  He threw a lot of pitches as four costly Brave errors made it a lot more work than it needed to be. 

The Braves got on the board in the third as Mike Blaschko walked, stole second and scored on a Brent Newman single. 

The Braves had a potential big inning in the fourth, but they lost two base runners on the base paths.  They did manage to take the lead, 3-2, scoring two runs as Shawn Boyle singled, went to third on the pitcher’s errant pick-off attempt, Paul Tate walked, stole second and both scored on a Jim Rogers double. 

The Braves regained the lead at 5-3, in the fifth, when Chad Anderson singled, moved to second on a ground out and scored on a Newman single.  He then scored as Tim Palmquist and Mark Simota both singled. 

The game was tied at five, after five innings.  In the sixth Tate walked and Rogers sacrificed him to second.  Chad Blaschko and Anderson both walked to load the bases.

Mike Blaschko’s infield single pushed home the lead run.  Newman was then hit by a pitch to force in a second run. 

In the bottom of the sixth the Islanders used two walks, an error and five hits (some had eyes and that is part of the game of baseball) to take a four run lead. 

Amongst the clouds of mosquitoes, a baseball game was played last Friday night at Ray Plut Field.  The Braves opened up a tight game with a four run sixth inning. 

Mike Blaschko reached on an error and Brent Newman walked.  The Goats then turned a nice 6-4-3 double play.  With two out, Chip Schloesser singled, Pete Plut reached on an error, Shawn Boyle singled, Darian Hunt reached on an error, Jim Rogers walked and Chad Blaschko singled to plate four insurance runs.     

The Braves opened their scoring in the first when Chad Blaschko walked, stole second and scored when Paul Factor reached on an infield error. 

The Goats took the lead with two runs in the top of the second.  The Braves regained the lead with two of their own in the same frame.  Schloesser singled, Plut reached on a fielder’s choice, stole second, Boyle walked and both advanced on a wild pitch.  Rogers came through with a two-out, two RBI single. 

Lynn Schwarz was in control on the mound notching the complete game win.  He scattering three hits, while walking one, hitting two and fanning eight. 

On a steamy Sunday afternoon at Ensign Field in New Hope the Braves got a great pitching performance from Mike Blaschko and enough offense for the victory.  Blaschko got the shutout win scattering three hits and walking one while fanning five. 

Both teams played errorless ball in the very warm and humid conditions. 

Although connecting for eleven hits and receiving six walks the Brave offense sputtered leaving thirteen runners on base. 

The Braves broke the ice in the third when Chad Anderson doubled and scored on a Mike Blaschko double.  

In the fifth, Anderson singled, Brent Newman and Mark Simota both singled, plating Anderson. 

Another insurance run was added in the sixth as Gary Schloesser walked, Chad Blaschko singled, and both Anderson and Newman walked, forcing in Schloesser. 

The Braves were down early but came back and then hung on to pull out a 7-6 win at the steamy Mini-Met in Jordan.  

The Alers started strong putting together five hits in the first inning to take an early 4-0  lead. 

The Braves put a big crooked six on the board in the third inning.   Darian Hunt and Grant Anderson walked, while Chad Blaschko reached on an error.  Chad Anderson then stroked a shot over the leftfield wall for a bases clearing grand slam.  Brent Newman and Mike Blaschko followed with singles.   Mark Simota reached on a fielder’s choice and Paul Factor reached on an error for two more runs. 

An insurance run was added in the top of the seventh as Anderson singled, Newman reached on a fielder’s choice, stole second and scored on a Mike Blaschko single. 

The Alers made it a tight game, adding two runs in the bottom of the seventh, aided by a walk and two Brave throwing errors. 

Ken Schmidt  went the first four on the mound allowing seven hits, with one strikeout.  Mark Simota hurled three innings, allowing one hit, walking four and fanning one.   

The Braves threatened a few times but there was little offense against Mariner’s lefty, Mike Fier.  The former Montreal Expo minor leaguer scattered just three hits, walked four and fanned nine. 

In the first inning Chad Anderson walked and Shawn Boyle reached on an infield error but both were stranded at second and third. 

Paul Tate and Chad Blaschko both singled to lead off the third inning but a strikeout following a well turned double play ended that rally.  Dustin Gibbs had the other Brave hit as he singled in the fourth. 

Blaschko and Boyle both walked in the sixth but a superbly turned double play again put out the fire. 

Mark Simota started on the hill and went four innings allowing nine runs (most unearned) six hits and walking five.  Ken Schmidt tossed the fifth and sixth allowing a hit and walk in each inning before the ten-rule-rule was invoked.

The Braves put together their best team effort of the season with a win over the visiting Union Hill Pit Bulls. 

The key to the game was Mike Blaschko’s pitching performance. He kept the Pit Bulls off balance allowing just one run, scattering five hits, walking two and fanning five. 

The Braves drew first blood in the first inning as Chad Blaschko singled and three walks were issued to Lynn Schwartz, Jason Hollom and Mark Simota.  Paul Factor then reached on an infield error, plating a second run. 

In the second, Pete Plut walked, Shawn Boyle reached on a fielder’s choice, Chad Blaschko singled and Tim Palmquist doubled, scoring Boyle. 

Three scored in the fourth as Plut singled, Boyle reached on a fielder’s choice, Chad Blaschko walked, Mike Blaschko doubled, Schwarz walked and Hollom doubled. 

The sixth saw three more runs as Boyle walked, Chad Blaschko reached on a fielder’s choice, Mike Blaschko hit a second double, Schwarz reached on an infield error, Hollom walked, Simota reached on an infield error and Factor walked.     

On a beautiful night for baseball in Searles the Bullheads shutout the Braves 5-0.  It was the Braves first encounter with the right-handed slants of former major league catcher, Terry Steinbach, on the hill for the Bullheads.  He allowed just  two hits over his five inning start, fanning four and walking none.  Kyle Messner hurled the final two frames for the Bullheads allowing one hit and a walk with two strikeouts. 

Lynn Schwarz went the distance for the Braves scattering nine hits, while fanning two and issuing one free pass. 

The Braves had only four base runners for the game and none of them got past second base.  Ken Schmidt singled in the fourth, Paul Factor singled in the fifth,  Jim Rogers walked in the sixth and Mike Blaschko singled in the seventh. 

St. Patrick prevailed in suppressing heat and soggy conditions.  Considering the fact that it rained five inches on Friday and that there was a rain delay in the amateur game that preceded this game, the Braves and Shamrocks played errorless ball with many very good defensive plays.  

In the second inning the Shamrocks strung together two singles, a walk, a hit batsman and a double to plate three runs.  The three runs stood up as Shamrock Kevin Hart scattered five hits and walked just one while fanning five. 

The Braves lone run came in their second inning when Mark Simota reached first on a strike out - passed ball, went to third on a Paul Factor single and scored on a wild pitch.

Shawn Boyle followed with a single but both runners were stranded. 

Mike Blaschko went the distance for the locals allowing six hits, walking one and hitting one batter while striking out six. 

The Braves recovered from an early self-inflicted hole to down Shoreview 13-3.  The Hawks capitalized on a walk and two infield errors, using a lone single to cap a three run second inning. 

In the home half of the second, Russ Ehlers walked, Lynn Schwarz was hit by a pitch, Dustin Gibbs reached on a fielder’s choice and Shawn Boyle walked to load the bases.  With two out, Chad Blaschko hit a bases clearing double. 

In the third inning the Braves plated four more as Ehlers walked, Mark Simota, Gibbs and Boyle all singled, Blaschko walked and Brent Newman reached on an infield error. 

Five big fifth inning runs opened up the game as Tim Palmquist singled, Paul Factor reached on a fielder’s choice, Ehlers, Schwarz, and Gibbs singled, Boyle was hit by a pitch, Jim Rogers reached on a fielder’s choice, Blaschko walked, Newman singled, and Chad Anderson singled. 

Simota got the complete game win scattering just two hits, walking two and fanning three. 

The Cardinals jumped out early and the Braves couldn’t climb out of the hole.  The Cardinals put four on the board in the home half of the first combining five hits with an error.  They plated three more in the third making good use of three walks and a single. 

Down 7-0, Lynn Schwarz and Brent Newman walked to lead off the fourth.  With one out Russ Ehlers singled in Schwarz.  Newman scored on a Dustin Gibbs fielder’s choice. 

In the visitor’s fifth, Mike Blaschko walked, stole second and scored as Newman laced a one out single. 

Steve Hanson went the first four innings for St. Louis Park, allowing four hits and a walk with three strikeouts.  Neil Kulevsky hurled three innings yielding three hits and three walks while fanning two. 

Blaschko went the distance for the Braves allowing nine hits, walking three and fanning five. 

The Shakopee Chiefs used their potent bats to score early and often to down the Braves in the five inning game shortened by the ten-run-rule.  They also efficiently took advantage of five costly Brave errors. 

Braves’ starter Lynn Schwarz went two and two-thirds innings yielding thirteen runs on eleven hits, five walks and hit a batter, while fanning two.  Mark Simota went the final one and a third allowing a run and a hit. 

The Braves did score in the first inning when Chad Blaschko singled, stole second, went to third on Chad Anderson’s right-side grounder and scored on Tim Palmquist’s grounder to second.  Simota followed with a single but was stranded. 

The Brave’s other two hits were a  one out, second inning single by Paul Factor and a Blaschko double to lead off the third. 

Hard throwing Brad Keenan was in control for the Chiefs, allowing just four hits, fanning six with no free passes. 

Le Center’s Mike Blaschko and St. Peter’s John Landkammer locked horns in a great pitcher’s dual.  The game’s pace was very crisp with numerous one, two, three innings. 

In the top of the third inning with runners on the corners and two out, the Saints attempted a double steal.  A strong throw from Lynn Schwarz nabbed the runner at second to end the threat. 

The Braves got on the board in the bottom half of the third inning.  With two outs, Shawn Boyle singled and Russ Ehlers drew a walk.  Chad Blaschko followed with a double to plate Boyle. 

Mike Blaschko was perfect in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.  The Brave’s lead held up until one out in the top of the seventh.  The Saints then worked a walk and followed with a single.  An infield grounder resulted in a force attempt at second where the runner was ruled safe on a questionable call, loading the bases.  A Saint single plated one run.  With the infield in the Braves got a force out at the plate on a grounder to short.  The next three hitters all singled with Chad Anderson assisting on the final out with a strong one hop throw to the plate to nail the baserunner.  

Hard throwing Travis Helling came on to close in the bottom of the seventh inning for the Saints.

Landkammer allowed just two hits, two walks and fanned seven in his six innings of work. 

Mike Blaschko took the complete game loss.  He pitched a very strong game against the potent Saint’s lineup.  He allowed just seven hits, walked two and fanned four. 

It only takes a quick look at the line score to get a feel for how this Wilson Division matchup transpired.  The Tigers scored early and often with a ten hit attack. 

Terry Knop was on top of his game allowing just two hits and fanning ten Braves hitters.

Paul Factor, in the second, and Russ Ehlers, in the third, had the lone singles surrendered  by Knop. 

Pete Plut started on the hill for the locals going four innings allowing eight runs on eight hits, walking four, hitting one with two strikeouts.  Mark Simota tossed three innings allowing one run, two hits, walking two, hitting one and fanning one. 

Coming Up: The Braves begin a challenging three game stretch in their schedule.  On Friday, June 24^th, they host the St. Peter Saints at 7:30 pm.  On Sunday, June 26th they travel to Searles to take on the Bullheads in a 4 pm contest.  On Wednesday, June 29^th, they travel to Shakopee to take on the Chiefs at 7:30 pm.  Many would say that these three teams are the best of the twenty-five team River Valley League.

In a classic example of the wheels falling off the Bombers used four hits to score seven runs in the top of the seventh inning.  They capitalized on a walk, a hit batter, two physical errors and a couple of mental errors to down the locals. 

The Braves plated two in the second as Pete Plut walked, Mark Simota doubled and Jason Hollom walked.  After a fielder’s choice and a walk to Shawn Boyle, Simota scored on a wild pitch.  

The Braves finished their scoring in the third frame as Chad Blaschko singled, M. Blaschko walked, Plut and Simota both singled, Russ Ehlers and Boyle both walked but the bases were left loaded. 

Lynn Schwarz went the distance allowing nine hits, three walks and two hit by pitch, while fanning five. 

The nine runners left on base, five in scoring position, along with the seventh inning implosion sum up the disappointing loss.  The Braves are 1-1 in River Valley League play, 2-1-1 overall.

A boatload of runs were scored in the exhibition game as both teams used a variety of pitchers.   The Bees used four hurlers.  Mark Simota, Mike Blaschko and Ken Schmidt toed the rubber for the Braves. 

The Braves put two on the board in the first as Schmidt walked, Tim Palmquist and Chad Anderson singled and Chip Schloesser reached on an error. 

In the second Dustin Gibbs, Jim Rogers and Mike Blaschko all walked to load the bases.

Pete Plutt singled home two runs. 

In the fourth inning , Russ Ehlers was hit by a pitch, M. Blaschko walked, Plut tripled, C. Blaschko singled, stole second and scored on  a single by Palmquist. 

Three insurance runs came in handy in the sixth.  M. Blaschko and Plut walked, C. Blaschko singled,  Palmquist doubled and Anderson followed with a sac fly.

Led by a nine hit attack the Braves recorded a win at home over Webster in their first regular season game.  Lynn Schwarz went the distance in the shortened six inning game due to the ten-run –rule.  He scattered four hits, walking four and fanning seven. 

The Braves jumped ahead in the first with three runs as Chad Blaschko walked and  Mike Blaschko, Chad Anderson, Schwarz and Gary Schloesser singled. 

In the second, Dustin Gibbs singled, Jimmy Rogers reached on an error, C. Blaschko reached on a fielder’s choice and M. Blaschko plated Gibbs with a single. 

In the fourth, Gibbs was hit by a pitch, Rogers reached on an error, and both C. Blaschko and M. Blaschko singled. 

The game ended in the sixth as C. Blaschko, Ken Schmidt and Anderson loaded the bases with free passes.  Tim Palquist singled, Mark Simota reached on a fielder’s choice, and walks to Schwarz, Schloesser and Paul Factor ended the game.

The Le Center Braves opened their 2011 season with an exhibition game hosting  Lonsdale.  After agreeing to one extra inning the final score remained tied at three.  The locals exercised five pitchers Lynn Schwarz, Pete Plut, Ken Schmidt, Mark Simota and Mike Blaschko in the contest. 

Le Center plated a run in the fourth as Tim Palmquist singled, advanced on two wild pitches and scored on an errant pickoff attempt at first, following Plut’s walk.

Trailing 3-1 the Braves tied the game in the sixth as Chad Blaschko and Chad Anderson both scored as the result of two errors, three free passes.