ROCORI Advances to State Tourney

ST. CLOUD -- The ROCORI Spartans defeated the Sauk Rapids-Rice Storm 6-1 at Dick Putz Field Tuesday afternoon. The victory gives the Spartans the Section 5AAA title.

ROCORI got on the board with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Jordan Barth led off the frame with a triple and was knocked in by Dylan Tebrake's single. Tebrake would advance to second on an error by left fielder Ethan Bengston and eventually advanced to third base on a wild pitch.

After a Will Huls strikeout, Austin Dufner was hit by a Lucas Bentrud pitch. Grant Thomes followed with a sacrifice fly to plate Tebrake.

ROCORI capped the inning with a Pat Hemmingson RBI single for a 3-0 lead.

The Storm got a run back in the top of the sixth inning, with Bentrud scoring Eric Burski on a double.

However, the Spartans broke the game open in the bottom of the sixth when pinch hitter Maison Grefe singled home Will Huls and Pat Hemmingson doubled home Dufner to make the score 5-1.

Nick Penick continued the rally with an infield single to plate Grefe making the score 6-1.

Hemmingson finished the game 3-4 for the Spartans, and Jordan Barth was 2-3.

Jake Brinker pitched a complete game for the Spartans, allowing one run on four hits while striking out six and walking four.