Braves to play August 30 in first state tournament since 2023

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

The Bluffton Braves will be making a return to the state amateur baseball tournament for the first time since advancing to the Class C semi-finals in 2023 after defeating the Bemidji Blue Ox for the second time in a week on Saturday afternoon.

The Braves, now a Class B team, defeated the Bemidji Blue Ox by a score of 7-4 on Saturday to cap a tremendous Region 5B tournament in front of one of the largest crowds at Terry Geiser Field in Bluffton in recent memory. 

The Braves trailed early when Bemidji connected with an RBI single in the top of the first inning, before Bluffton blew past the Blue Ox with seven runs in just three innings.

Bluffton got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth inning when Justin Dykhoff led off the inning by reaching on an error. Tyson Barthel followed with a walk and Logan Pulju followed with a fielder’s choice to load the bases with no outs. Gabe Geiser hit into a fielder’s choice for the first out of the inning, before Isaac Hamann connected with a clutch one out single to bring a pair of runs across the plate. 

Bemidji retook the lead momentarily in the top of the fifth inning on a two-run single, before Connor Davis tied the score up at 3-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning with an RBI single with one out and Barthel hit a fielder’s choice to bring Davis across the plate from third to give the Braves a 4-3 lead. 

Bluffton put the game out of reach in the sixth inning when Gabe Geiser led off the inning with a double, Hamann reached on a bunt single, before Payton Rondestvedt struck out for the first out of the inning. With runners on first and second base, Josh Dykhoff was intentionally walked, before Kobe Snyder made the Blue Ox pay with a single that brought two runs across the plate to make the score 6-3. Davis was walked to once again load the bases for the Braves with just one out, before Justin Dykhoff roped an RBI single to center field to make the score 7-3. The inning came to a close with a double play, but not before Bluffton took control of the game 7-3. 

Bemidji had its chances to tie the game after scoring a run in the seventh and stranding a pair of runners on base, but Barthel and Hamann retired seven of the next eight hitters in order to end the game in Bluffton’s favor 7-4 and punch a return trip to the state tournament.

Hamann and Justin Dykhoff led the way offensively with two hits apiece, while Barthel picked up the win on the mound as he went seven innings, giving up eight hits, four earned runs, walking five and striking out four batters. Hamann pitched two innings of scoreless ball in relief and gave up just one hit and struck out two batters.

The Braves will open the Class B tournament on Sunday, Aug. 30 in New Prague against the winner of the Cold Spring Springers and the Foley Lumberjacks. The winner of the game will advance to the Class B quarterfinals against the winner of Stewartville-Racine vs. Plate/Webster on Saturday, Sept. 5 in Shakopee. 

The Class B semi-finals are set for Sept. 6 in Shakopee and the finals will be held on Monday, Sept. 7 at 1 p.m. in Shakopee.

AB R H     BI

Isaac Hamann 4 1 2 2

Payton Rondestv. 4 0 0 0

Josh Dykhoff 3 2 1 0

Kobe Snyder 4 0 1 2

Connor Davis 4 0 2 1

Cody Barthel 0 0 0 0

Tyson Barthel 3 1 1 1

Logan Pulju 3 1 1 0

Gabe Gesier 3 1 1 0

HITTING- 2B- Gabe Geiser, Josh Dykhoff

PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-k)- Tyson Barthel 7-8-4-4-5-4, Isaac Hamann 2-1-0-0-0-2