Springers clinch state tourney spot

For August 7 Cold Spring Record

COLD SPRING, Minn. – The Cold Spring Springers won their first two Section 7B playoff games last weekend in Cold Spring to clinch a spot in this year’s state amateur baseball tournament. The top-seeded Springers defeated #4 seed Soderville 11-7 on Saturday, Aug. 4 and #3 Coon Rapids 3-0 on Sunday, Aug. 5.

With the wins, Cold Spring improves to 35-10 overall on the season. The Springers will be making their state-record 46th state tournament appearance and state-record 20th straight appearance (1988-2007).

In the win over Soderville, Cold Spring jumped out to a 7-0 lead after two innings. The Outlaws scored five runs in the top of the eighth inning after Cold Spring led 11-2. Ryan Holthaus was 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI, while Mike Burtzel, Steve Huls and Mike Holman each had two hits. Besides Holthaus, Huls and Andy Bulson each also contributed multiple RBI. Chris Butala started on the mound and pitched 7 2/3 innings to raise his record to 2-1. Butala scattered six runs, six hits, four walks and three strike outs. Andy Bulson finished the game on the mound.

In the win over Coon Rapids, Zach Femrite (14-2) pitched a complete-game shut out, striking out nine and allowing five hits. Femrite walked four. The Springers scored single runs in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings. Ryan Holthaus had a RBI single scoring Ben Griffin in the fourth inning, Darren Heying had a RBI ground out scoring Mike Burtzel in the fifth inning and Gary Kiess scored on a passed ball in the seventh inning. Holthaus had three hits on the night and ended the weekend with six hits. Defensively, Gary Kiess made a diving catch to save a run in the third inning and Mike Holman threw out a runner at the plate in the fourth inning.

The Section 7B playoffs continue this weekend in Cold Spring. On Friday, Aug. 10, #2 Blaine takes on Soderville at 8 p.m. Friday night’s winner plays Coon Rapids at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 11, for the right to advance to the state tournament. Cold Spring is in action in the championship game at 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 11 against the 1:30 p.m. Saturday winner. A second championship game, if necessary, is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 12. This year’s state tournament is played in Hamburg and Norwood, with Section 7B playing Section 3B on Friday, Aug. 17, in Norwood.