By John RittenhouseThe Luverne Redbirds were backed against the wall when they traveled to Granite Falls for a Region 13C Playoff game Wednesday, Aug. 6.Luverne posted a three-run win against Fairmont in the region opener at Redbird Field Friday, but the Redbirds lost a seven-run decision in Granite Falls Sunday.The 17-11 Redbirds need to beat Granite Falls twice to earn a berth in the state tournament.Luverne was facing elimination with a loss in Granite Falls Aug. 6. A win in that game would force a championship game to be played 7:30 p.m. at Redbird Field Friday.GF 7, Luverne 0The defending state Class C champions had little trouble disposing of the Redbirds by seven runs during Sunday’s game played in Granite Falls.Granite Falls blanked the Redbirds for nine innings while limiting Luverne to four singles in the game.The hosts produced runs in five of eight innings they appeared at the plate, setting the stage for a lopsided win.Granite Falls plated singled runs in the first and second innings to gain an early advantage before making it 5-0 with two runs in the fifth inning and one in the sixth. A two-run eighth inning for the hosts put the game out of reach.Luverne’s best scoring chances came in the second, sixth and ninth innings, but the Redbirds stranded two runners on base in all three innings.Luverne’s singles came from Jeff Sehr in the second inning, Derek Ohme in the sixth and Mike Wenninger and Terry Eernisse in the ninth.Wilmont draftee Ben Morrison pitched the first six innings and took the loss. He allowed 11 hits and five runs (two were earned). Cole Johnson, another Wilmont draftee, pitched two innings of two-hit, two-run ball in relief of Morrison.Box score AB R H BIOhme 3 0 1 0Reisch 2 0 0 0M.Sehr 2 0 0 0Schneider 0 0 0 0Wenninger 4 0 1 0J.Sehr 4 0 1 0Weber 3 0 0 0Edstrom 2 0 0 0Tr.Eernisse 2 0 1 0Iveland 2 0 0 0Winkels 2 0 0 0Fisher 2 0 0 0Sandbulte 1 0 0 0Luverne 5, Fairmont 2An outstanding pitching performance by Jon Jarchow led the Redbirds to a three-run win during the region opener in Luverne Friday.Jarchow pitched nine innings of one-hit ball to pick up the victory.Jarchow overpowered Fairmont by recording 13 strikeouts. He walked four batters and hit another in the game. The lone hit Jarchow surrendered was a double in the sixth inning.Luverne opened a 2-0 cushion in the bottom of the first inning and never lost the lead as the game progressed.Ohme and Ben Winkels reached base on errors to start the first inning for Luverne. Sehr singled home Ohme, and Winkels scored when Brian Weber grounded out.Fairmont scored once in the top of the second before the Redbirds countered with a run in the bottom of the second to make it 3-1.James Fisher tripled and scored Luverne’s run on a fielder’s choice by Ohme.Fairmont trimmed the difference to one run (3-2) in the top of the sixth before Luverne iced the game with single runs in the seventh and eighth innings.Luke Iveland singled and scored on a ground out by Winkels in the seventh. Billy Schneider walked and scored on a double off the bat of Eric Edstrom in the eighth.Box score AB R H BIOhme 3 1 0 1Winkels 4 1 0 1M.Sehr 3 0 0 0Reisch 0 0 0 0J.Sehr 4 0 1 1Weber 4 0 1 1Schneider 0 1 0 0Edstrom 3 0 2 1Sandbulte 3 0 0 0Eernisse 0 0 0 0Iveland 4 1 1 0Fisher 3 1 1 0
