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It was a brief appearance for Sibley East in the Third District American Legion Baseball Playoffs at Belle Plaine this past week.

The local post baseballers, without three of its regulars, watched their season end with losses to Belle Plaine and Pine Island. A total of two runs were all the black and gold could managed in the tourney.

Sibley East, which won the League “A” playoff championship, ends the Legion baseball season with a 16-8 record.

S.E. 1 Belle Plaine 6

Sibley East’s offense was stymied in the District Tournament’s opening game Saturday as the black and gold fell to host Belle Plaine 6-1.

An error helped produce a 1-0 lead for top seed Sibley East in the second inning. But, third seed Belle Plaine would rattle off six unanswered runs over the final three innings to capture the victory.

Belle Plaine, on three walks, loaded the bases in the first inning but did not score.

Sibley East’s Josh Gasow provied the first run of the game. He opened Sibley East’s second inning at-bat by reaching on an error. He eventually scored on a single by Zac Pauly.

Sibley East managed baserunners in four of its next five at-bats but could not produce any more runs.

Belle Plaine, after threatening to score early in the game, finally broke through in the fifth inning. An error and two walks set the table for a rally. Belle Plaine added three singles to the mix and batted around the order enroute to a 4-1 advantage.

An error and a double produced another run for Belle Plaine in the sixth inning. Sibley East, after another fielding miscue, watched the deficit grow to 6-1 in the seventh frame.

In the bottom of the seventh, Sibley East managed two baserunners. But, Belle Plaine closed out the victory with a groundout and two flyball outs.

Pauly, Shane Henke and Jake Pichelmann led Sibley East offensively with two singles apiece. The trio accounted for all six of Sibley East’s hits in the setback.

Tim Kuphal suffered the mound loss. The righthander allowed four runs on five hits in five innings of work. Kuphal struckout five and walked six.

Zach Herd pitched the final two innings for Sibley East. He yielded two runs on two hits.

S.E. 1 Pine Island 2

Missed scoring opportunities proved costly for Sibley East on Sunday. The Wolverines, in a District Playoff elimination game, stranded 12 baserunners in a 2-1 loss to Pine Island.

Doug Flieth’s Sibley East squad cranked out eight singles but could only manage one run off pitcher Ben Books and the Pine Island defense.

Sibley East tallied singles in five of seven at-bats. The local nine had three straight base hits in the fifth inning but did not score a run. Sibley East also had a baserunner thrown out at home plate in the third frame.

Pine Island plated the first run of the game. Two walks, a single and a sacrifice fly produced the first inning run for the second seed.

Without recording a hit, Pine Island garnered a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Two walks and a Sibley East error fueled the scoring.

A leadoff walk helped Sibley East reach the scoreboard in the bottom of the second inning. Zac Pauly opened the at-bat by reaching on a base-on-balls. Tyler Gasow followed with a single but Sibley East would only manage one run.

Pine Island would manage but one hit over the final five innings. But, the one run lead would prove to be enough.

Sibley East nearly knotted the game in the third inning. Brett Pioske and Tim Kuphal singled in the inning but Pioske was thrown out at home plate.

With one out in the fifth frame, Pioske, Josh Gasow and Kuphal strung together consecutive singles. This time Pine Island got out of the jam with a strikeout and a flyout.

Sibley East failed to advance a runner to second base in its final two at-bats as Pine Island held on for the win.

Kuphal led Sibley East in the setback with three singles. Josh Gasow and Pioske tallied two base hits apiece.

Josh Gasow was tagged with the mound loss. He allowed just two hits but was charged with seven walks. Gasow struckout six.