By Chad Koenen

Publisher

Austin Maneval and Perham draftee Alex Blume combined to throw 7 1/3 innings of no-hit baseball in the opening round of the Class C state baseball tournament on Saturday, Aug. 22 in New Prague. Unfortunately, the Orioles were able to get things going in the top of the eighth inning behind a three-run home run from Gavin Bergman to get past the Millers by a score of 4-1.

Erik Wagner, of New Prague, broke up the combined no-hitter when he connected with a hit that brought Jake Mader across the plate. Mader drew a lead off walk to start the inning. Then with two runners on, Gavin Bergman hit a three-run home run to give New Prague its first lead of the game by a score of 4-1. Bergman also threw 7 1/3 innings and allowed just one run on four hits, while striking out 11 batters.

Maneval and Blume combined to strike out 17 batters and allowed only three base runners before the top of the eighth inning. In all, the Millers gave up just two hits in the game.

The Millers got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth inning behind and RBI single from Brayden Ehnert that brought Finn Roder across the plate. Roder led off the inning by getting hit by a pitch.

The loss end the Millers season at the state tournament with a record of 16-5 overall.