Spartans Open Section 5-3A Playoffs With 8-3 Win Over Thunder

COLD SPRING -- The ROCORI Spartans baseball team kicked off the Section 5-3A Playoffs on the right foot on Tuesday afternoon.

The second-seeded Spartans took down No. 7 Zimmerman 8-3 in the opening round of the section playoffs at the Cold Spring Baseball Park.

ROCORI jumped out in front early in the game on Tuesday, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning to grab a 3-0 lead over Zimmerman.

After Zimmerman answered back with two runs in the top of the third inning, the Spartans brought home some insurance runs with one run in the fifth inning and four in the sixth to push the game out of reach.

Brock Humbert went 3-for-4 with two RBI, Collin Eskew went 2-for-4 with one run scored and three RBI, Brady Klehr went 2-for-3 with two RBI and Jack Steil finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored and one RBI to lead ROCORI at the plate. Nolan Notch added one hit and three runs scored and Dylan Rausch and Max Hansen each tallied one hit a piece.

Klehr started the game on the mound for the Spartans, pitching six innings to grab the win. He gave up nine hits, two runs, two walks and struck out five. Nolan Notch finished the game on the hill, pitching the final inning in relief.

With the win, ROCORI will advance in the winners bracket of the Section 5-3A Playoffs and will host No. 6 St. Cloud Apollo at 2 p.m. on Thursday back at the Cold Spring Baseball Park.