Saturday, August 11, 2012

Despite first regional loss, Ely plays one game Sunday for championship

Plato kept its regional title hopes alive Saturday night while Ely suffered its first defeat in a 10-0 drubbing in the Division II Central Plains Tournament.

The Minnesota state champions roughed up four Ely pitchers, pounding 15 hits and advancing to take on Wahpeton at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Ely (32-10) awaits the winner at 3:30 p.m. in the championship game. Post 248 secured its spot in the finals earlier in the day with a 6-4 win over Wahpeton, a victory that left Ely as the tournament's final unbeaten team.

But Ely was unable to keep its hot streak going Saturday night, struggling against winning pitcher Derek Bratsch, who tossed a four-hitter and struck out three.

Plato got single runs in the first and second frames and knocked out Ely starter Riley Bernsdorf in the third, taking a 4-0 lead.

Behind three hits from Adam Prehn and two doubles from Derek Weber, Plato added to its lead and led 9-0 through five innings.

Will Gustafson relieved Bernsdorf while Bradley Roy tossed a scoreless sixth for Post 248. Plato added a run against Jory Johnson in the final frame.

Gustafson had two of the four Ely hits.

Wahpeton stayed alive in the tournament by defeating Wisconsin Dells 9-4 in eight innings.

Sunday's tournament action can be followed online at www.wahpetonbaseball.org.

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