Byron runs into tough pitcher in Class AAA state quarterfinal baseball play

Jun. 13—JORDAN — There will be no state title for the Byron baseball team.

The unseeded Bears suffered a 3-0 loss to No. 3 Mahtomedi (18-6) on Tuesday in the Class AAA state quarterfinals.

"It was a tough game, a tough loss," Byron coach Jordan Bale said. "We knew coming out they were one of the top teams to beat."

Mahtomedi left-hander Ethan Felling had a dominating performance. He allowed just three hits and he struck 12 while walking one and hitting two while tossing a shutout.

"We knew if they threw that pitcher that we were going to have a tough time scoring runs," Bale said. "We had some chances with guys left on base, we just didn't quite come through when we needed to."

Felling had played a big part with his bat in getting Mahtomedi to the state tournament. He hit a three-run homer in a 4-0 win over Hill-Murray in the Section 4AAA championship game. He was 0-for-4 at the plate against the Bears, but he was stellar on the mound.

Byron (18-7) had one strong scoring chance, in the top fourth, when the game was still scoreless. Reid Bielen was hit by a pitch with one out and he went to third on a single by Spencer Neirman and an outfield error. A ground out moved Nierman to second while Bielen held third for the second out. Felling then struck out the next hitter to get out of the jam.

"We just didn't put the ball in play enough and hit when we needed to," Byron senior Quinten Holmes said. "That's just kind of how it goes. When you put up zero runs, it's hard to win a baseball game."

Bale figured it was going to be a low-scoring game and he was right. The only other time Byron had a runner reach scoring position was in the first inning when Isaiah Brennan walked and took second on a passed ball.

Nick Netzke had two of Byron's three hits off Felling while the lefty also hit the left-handed hitting Bielen twice. Felling was just as dominate at the end of the game. The last four outs he recorded were by strikeout.

"He's just got real good stuff," Bale said. "He's probably (throwing) upper 80s, a couple of those I would imagine were sitting 90, 91 (miles per hour). We hadn't seen anyone like that. I'm proud of our guys for competing."

Holmes was also solid on the mound for Byron. The right-hander allowed five hits and three runs, two earned. He stranded a pair of runners on in both the first and second innings.

"I started out a little shaky," Holmes said. "I wasn't hitting my spots right away, but I kind of came back a little bit later."

Mahtomedi played small-ball in the bottom of the fourth to score two runs. Two singles and two bunts, plus a throwing error, led to a pair of runs.

Mahtomedi added another run in the fifth on Seth Nelson's RBI double.

"They did what they were supposed to do," Bale said. "They got some bunts down, they had a squeeze, and they came through when they needed to. It's one of those tough games when you could tell both pitchers are on and it's not going to take many runs. And they got them and we didn't."

Byron falls into the consolation round and will face St. Thomas Academy at noon on Wednesday at Chaska Athletic Park. Sophomore Gavin Bartel will start on the mound for Byron. The winner plays for fifth later in the day.

"I think we just need to focus more and try putting the ball in play more," Holmes said. "Just put the ball in play and get some more hits."

"We just need to come out and be ready to fight," Bale added.

Mahtomedi 3, Byron 0

Byron#000#000#0#—#0#3#2

Mahtomedi#000#210#x#—#3#5#1

Byron: Spencer Nierman 1-for-3; Nick Netzke 2-for-3. Pitcher: Quentin Holmes (LP) 6 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K.

No. 3 Mahtomedi: Jacob Johnson 1-for-3, 1 R; Sam Garry 1-for-3, 1 2B; Seth Nelson 1-for-2, 1 2B, 1 RBI; Josh Donna 1-for-3, 1 R; Max Strecker 1-for-3, 1 R; Charlie Barre 1 RBI. Pitcher: Ethan Felling (WP) 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 12 K.