By John RittenhouseThe Adrian Dragons were unable to record a victory during their second appearance at the Minnesota State Class A Baseball Tournament in the past three years Thursday.The Dragons dropped a heart-breaking, 6-5 decision to eventual tournament runner up New York Mills in the quarterfinals.Adrian then lost a 9-4 game to eventual consolation champion Mayer Lutheran in the first round of consolation play.The Dragons end the season with an 18-9 record.ML 9, Adrian 4The Dragons bowed out of the state classic after dropping a five-run decision to Mayer Lutheran during a consolation game played in Jordan Thursday.The teams exchanged three-run rallies in the game’s first inning, but the Crusaders outscored AHS 6-1 the rest of the way to advance to the consolation finals.It looked like the contest would be a high-scoring one when the teams plated a combined six runs in the first inning.ML opened the scoring in the top of the first, taking a 3-0 lead with a fielder’s choice for an RBI from Chris Schaefer, a double-steal that ended with Jon Schwartz scoring and Neil Willmsen slapping an RBI single.Adrian answered with a three-run rally in the bottom of the first that started with Cody Kontz slapping a single and Tyler Wold sending Kontz to third with a double. Levi Bullerman singled home Kontz before Brandon Wolf delivered a two-run double to knot the score at three.Neither team could produce a run in the second inning, but ML scored one run in the third, three in the fourth and two in the fifth to open a commanding 9-3 advantage.Nic Haller, one of two Crusaders to slap a pair of hits in the game, singled and scored the go-ahead run in the third when Matt Bruers grounded out.Haller belted a three-run homer to make it a 7-3 game in the fourth. Bruers singled and scored on an error and Jared Duske was hit by a pitch and scored on a wild pitch when ML increased its lead to 9-3 in the fifth.Adrian scored its final run of the season in the bottom of the fifth when Tyler Wolf connected for a solo homerun to left field.David Hoffer pitched the first four and two-thirds innings for Adrian. He took the loss after surrendering 10 hits, nine runs (seven were earned) and three walks. Brandon Diekmann tossed two and one-third innings of hitless, scoreless relief. Diekmann walked two batters.Box score AB R H BIKontz 3 1 1 0T.Wolf 4 2 2 1Bullerman 3 1 2 1B.Wolf 4 0 1 2Kruger 2 0 0 0Diekmann 3 0 0 0Hoffer 3 0 0 0Lutmer 3 0 0 0Tjepkes 3 0 1 0NYM 6, Adrian 5The Dragons opened the tournament by dropping a one-run decision to New York Mills during Thursday’s quarterfinals in Chaska.The game was tight from beginning to end, but the Lakers were able to fight off a late challenge by Adrian to advance into the tournament’s semifinals.Adrian drew first blood in the contest by scoring two runs in the bottom half of the second inning.Brandon Wolf, who led all players in the game with three hits, singled to start the second inning for AHS. When Glen Kruger followed Wolf’s hit with a single, Wolf drew a throw as he dashed to third base that was wild. Wolf scored on the wild throw, and Kruger advanced to second base.Diekmann then doubled high off the right-field fence to plate Kruger. Diekmann advanced to third base on an error, but he was stranded at third at innings end.Adrian’s lead didn’t last long as NYM scored three runs in the top of the third inning before adding two more in the fourth to gain a 5-2 advantage.The Lakers loaded the sacks in the fourth with a one-out single by Tim Wegscheid, Jeramie Willer being hit by a pitch and Brent Weller drawing a walk. Dustin Geiser then hit a chopper that was fielded by AHS third baseman Will Lutmer, but his throw to the plate was never caught by Bullerman, Adrian’s catcher. Bullerman was charged with an error as the play progressed, and two runs scored to tie the game.NYM’s David Klinnert slapped a RBI single before the third inning was complete, giving the Lakers a 3-2 edge.The Lakers loaded the bases with one out in the fourth with Davin Wait drawing a walk, Wegscheid slapping a single and Jeramie Weller reaching base on an error. Brent Weller drew a walk to force home Wait, and Wegscheid scored when Geiser reached base on a fielder’s choice to make it 5-2.Adrian climbed back into the game by scoring two runs in the bottom of the fourth.Hoffer ignited the rally with a one-out single before advancing to second on a ground out by Lutmer. Brent Tjepkes doubled home Lutmer and scored on a single by Kontz to trim the difference to one run at 5-4.The Lakers plated what proved to be an important insurance run when Brent Weller singled with one out in the sixth and scored on a two-out double from Jake Hendrickx.Adrian’s Brandon Wolf cut the lead in half (6-5) when he homered to left in the bottom of the seventh, but the next two AHS batters were retired to end the game.Tyler Wolf worked all seven innings on the mound for AHS. He allowed eight hits, six runs (four were earned) and five walks.Geiser pitched all seven innings for NYM. He surrendered 11 hits, five earned runs and one walk.Box score AB R H BIKontz 4 0 2 1T.Wolf 4 0 0 0Bullerman 3 0 0 0B.Wolf 4 2 3 1Kruger 4 1 2 0Diekmann 4 0 2 1Weidert 0 0 0 0Hoffer 3 1 1 0Lutmer 3 0 0 0Tjepkes 3 1 1 1
