By John RittenhouseThe Luverne Redbirds went 2-1 without placing at the Miller Lite Invitational Amateur Baseball Tournament in Arlington and Green Isle over the weekend.The Redbirds posted two-run wins over Watkins and Fairfax Friday and Saturday respectively. Luverne was eliminated from the 16-team event without placing after losing a six-run game to Essig Sunday.Luverne ended the weekend with a 6-2 record. The Redbirds host Truman at 3 p.m. Sunday before playing a 7:30 p.m. game in Jackson.Essig 10, Luverne 4The Redbirds bowed out of the tournament after taking a six-run setback from Essig in Arlington Sunday.Essig scored nine runs in the first four innings of the game and the Redbirds were unable to climb out of the early hole.Luverne did trail by one (3-2) when Tony Sandbulte singled home a run and Eric Edstrom received a RBI for a fielder’s choice in the bottom of the second, but Essig scored two runs in the third and four in the fourth to open a 9-2 advantage that wasn’t seriously challenged.Jon Jarchow singled and scored on Jake Studer’s double in the bottom of the fourth to make the difference 9-3.Essig plated a run in the top of the sixth to lead 10-3 before Luverne capped the scoring when Jarchow singled and scored on an error in the bottom of the sixth.Edstrom worked all seven innings on the mound and took the loss. He surrendered eight earned runs and six walks during a three-strikeout effort.Box score AB R H BIBoen 4 1 2 0Sandbulte 3 0 1 1Schmidt 1 0 0 0Edstrom 2 0 0 1Shelton 1 0 0 0Winkels 1 0 0 0Goebel 3 0 0 0Jarchow 3 2 2 0Studer 3 0 2 1Fisher 3 0 0 0Nath 2 1 0 0Iveland 2 0 0 0Luverne 5, Fairfax 3The Redbirds posted their second win of the tournament when they topped Fairfax by two runs in Green Isle Saturday.Luverne fell behind 2-0 in the top of the first inning, but the Redbirds outscored Fairfax 5-1 the rest of the game to advance in the winner’s bracket.The Redbirds rallied from a 2-0 hole by scoring one run in the bottom of the first and three in the second to gain a 4-2 cushion.Mike Boen reached base on an error and scored in the first when Ben Winkels singled. Luke Iveland singled home two runs and Boen added an RBI double during the second inning.Fairfax trimmed the difference to one run (4-3) in the top of the third before Luverne capped the scoring with a counter in the bottom of the same inning.Jarchow walked and scored the insurance run when Jesse Kuhlman singled.Kuhlman tossed the first six innings to pick up the win. He fanned four batters, walked four and surrendered three earned runs. Boen recorded three strikeouts in the seventh inning to register a save.Box score AB R H BIBoen 4 1 2 1Sandbulte 2 0 1 0Edstrom 3 0 0 0Winkels 3 0 1 1Jarchow 2 1 0 0Studer 1 1 0 0Fisher 1 1 0 0Kuhlman 2 0 1 1Iveland 3 1 1 2Luverne 2, Watkins 0A strong pitching performance by Jarchow carried the Redbirds to a two-run victory over Watkins during the tournament opener in Arlington Friday.Jarchow blanked Watkins through seven innings, striking out 11 batters and allowing four hits.Luverne, which was limited to one hit in the game, scored the only runs of the contest in the bottom of the sixth.Joel Nath walked, advanced to second base when James Fisher grounded out, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Iveland and scored the first run on a wild pitch.Boen walked, stole second and scored on a single by Tony Sandbulte as the inning progressed.Box score AB R H BIBoen 2 1 0 0Sandbulte 3 0 1 1Edstrom 3 0 0 0Winkels 3 0 0 0Jarchow 2 0 0 0Studer 2 0 0 0Nath 1 1 0 0Fisher 2 0 0 0Iveland 1 0 0 0
