Springers fall in state tourney opener

For August 28 Cold Spring Record

COLD SPRING, Minn. – The Cold Spring Springers lost 4-3 to the Chaska Cubs in the first round of the Class B State Amateur Baseball Tournament on Friday, Aug. 17, in Norwood, and ended the season with a 36-11 overall record.

Zach Femrite started the game by striking out the first seven Chaska batters he faced. The Springers scored all three of their runs in the bottom of the sixth inning on a solo home run by Rick Burtzel, and RBI singles by Ben Griffin and Ryan Holthaus.

The Cubs tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the eighth inning. After a single, walk and error scored Chaska’s first run, a double scored two more runs to tie the game.

After the first two batters were retired in the top of the ninth inning, two straight singles and two straight walks brought in the winning run for Chaska.

For Cold Spring, they had seven hits in the game, including three by Ryan Lieser. Femrite (15-3) took the loss, scattering eight hits, three earned runs, four walks and 17 strikeouts. Femrite ended the season with 182 strikeouts and a 1.27 ERA in 128 innings pitched.

The Springers made their state-record 46th state tournament appearance and state-record 20th straight appearance (1988-2007).