PBR Spotlight game: No. 6 Minster vs. South Charleston Southeastern

By Dylan Hefflinger

SPRINGFIELD- Minster took advantage of three South Charleston Southeastern errors in the fifth inning to come from behind for a 6-3 win in Division IV regional semifinal play.

Trailing 3-2, Jay Eilerman hit a lead-off double to right and moved up on a sac bunt for No. 6 Minster. Adam Niemeyer then hit a run-scoring single to tie the game. But Minster was not done yet. A dropped fly ball put runners on the corners and Doug Huber followed with a squeeze bunt to score Niemeyer with the lead run. The Wildcats added another run on a passed ball and error.

Austin Knapke came in for relief of Huber, the starting pitcher, and blanked the Trojans the rest of the way, permitting a pair of hits with three strikeouts in three innings of work.

Minster had taken a 2-0 lead in the second on a RBI triple by Ryan Hoying and a wild pitch.

But South Charleston Southeastern (20-10) went in front with three runs in the fourth, all after two were down. Duncan Mercer hit a two-run double to right to score Jordan Hill who had walked and Preston Snodgrass who had singled. Mercer scored on a Dean Mohler hit.

Hill gave up eight hits and four walks while fanning three to take the loss for the Trojans.

Minster (23-6) plays Sidney Lehman Catholic, a 6-2 winner over Cincinnati Christian in the other regional semis, today at 5:00 p.m. in the regional finals. Minster, the defending state champion, rallied past Lehman Catholic 8-7 in last year's regional championship game.