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WINDOM — The Pipestone Area Schools baseball team saw its season come to an end on Tuesday, May 27, in the Section 3AA playoffs.
Quintin Tietz, who will be attending Dakota State University next year, scored the fourth and deciding run as the Eagles clipped the Arrows, 4-3, on a gray evening at Island Park.
“Landon (Quist) had him picked off both first and third base (during the fifth inning),” PAS head coach Rick Zollner said.
Pipestone Area Schools’ Landon Quist (right) is congratulated by teammate Austin Musch after scoring a run during a Section 3AA playoff game on Tuesday, May 27, at Island Park in Windom. Quist is one of five seniors who played his final scholastic game in a gut-wrenching 4-3 loss to the Eagles. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Zollner said the Arrows didn’t have a good throwing lane while Tietz was in a pickle between third base and home — with catcher Landon Johnson, third baseman Nohel Vivanco and Quist all involved in the hopeful rundown.
The out never materialized, and that gave Windom the insurance run it needed.
Pipestone Area Schools’ catcher Landon Johnson has the ball squirt free while trying to apply a tag during this Section 3A game at Windom on Tuesday, May 27. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
This loss was especially painful for two reasons.
PAS defeated Windom twice during the regular season thanks to Weston Reinhard’s pitching. What’s more, this was the final scholastic game for Trevor Chaulsett, Reinhard, Landon Quist, Johnson and Vivanco.
“They’re a group that enjoyed playing the game,” Zollner noted. “They’ve played the game together since they were all in Little League. I enjoyed coaching them.”
These seniors showed great leadership, Zollner said, always offering advice and working with the underclassmen.
Luca Quist singled to score his older brother, Landon, in the sixth inning. Luca advanced to second on a Windom throw; however, he was left at second on Johnson’s strikeout.
Pipestone Area Schools’ Luca Quist had a key RBI single during the Section 3A first-round game versus Windom at Island Park. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
PAS had one final chance to deadlock the score — or even pull ahead in the seventh.
With Charles Erickson in to pitch for Quintin Tietz, Nick Bruns opened the frame with a walk. Bruns advanced to second on an Eagle passed ball, and moved to third on Oliver Sterud’s groundout.
Chaulsett was called out by mere inches from the first-base bag on a groundout to Jackson Joyce, ending the Arrow season.
Pipestone Area Schools’ head coach Rick Zollner motions to a baserunner during a Section 3A first-round game on Tuesday, May 27. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
PAS jumped up top with two runs in the first inning. Landon Quist blasted an RBI triple to center field, scoring Chaulsett. Zayne Zollner then slapped an RBI single to center, pushing across Quist.
Quintin Tietz earned the win, with 10 strikeouts in 110 pitches. Reinhard absorbed the loss, with the following line: four innings, four runs (three earned), five hits, five strikeouts and two walks. Landon Quist and Zollner also saw time on the bump for PAS.
Pipestone Area Schools’ Trey Boelman catches a fly ball while teammate Trevor Chaulsett backs him up. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
Diamond notes
Windom gained plenty of momentum from the win over PAS, advancing through the winner’s bracket with a 6-1 upset of Fairmont on Thursday, May 29.
Montevideo blanked the Eagles, 2-0, on Saturday at Legion Field in Marshall — relegating Windom to the elimination bracket. Either Fairmont or Windom would be ousted from the 3AA tournament Monday.
PAS conducted its season-ending awards banquet Sunday at A’s/City Field. Look for a recap on the team honors presented in the June 12 edition of the Pipestone County Star.
The Arrows will turn red, white and blue as the American Legion season begins next week.
Pipestone Area Schools’ Nick Bruns reached base safely in the seventh inning, but was stranded with a possible tying run. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
INFORMATION
BASEBALL
Section 3AA Tournament
First-Round Game
Linescore
Tuesday, May 27
At Windom, Island Park
Windom 4, PAS 3
PAS 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 — 3 5 1
Windom 0 0 3 0 1 0 x — 4 5 0
WP: Quintin Tietz, Windom
LP: Weston Reinhard, PA
3B: Landon Quist, PAS
2B: Landon Quist, PAS; Jackson Joyce, 2B