The Jays rounded out their regular season with an 11-4 loss to the Shakopee Indians on Sunday night.
The Indians got out in front right away in the first inning, scoring two runs off of a Jays error in the field. Shakopee Indians were the first to get on the board in the first when an error scored two runs.
The Jays would be held without a hit till the fourth inning when Jonah Hoeg singled. In the fifth, Lance Goeschel and Isaac Heilman would reach base on a hit by pitch and a single, respectively. Jake Larson, pinch-running for Goeschel, would score on a double play. In the sixth, Jeff Butler led off the inning with a single, and Hoeg would homer to drive in two runs for the Jays.
Even though the Jays plated one run in the eighth, the Indians would have a five-run inning during their half of the eighth, putting the game too far out of reach for the Jays.
Charles Running stepped on the hill first for Prior Lake Jays. Running allowed seven hits and five runs over six innings, striking out three and walking three. Vinny Schleper started on the hill for Shakopee Indians. Scheleper allowed five hits and three runs over seven innings, striking out four and walking two.
Hoeg went 2-for-4 at the plate, with a single and home run, to lead the Jays in hits.
The next stop for the Jays is the Section 3B playoffs, which kick off next Sunday, July 30th. The Jays, as the 7th seed will face either Shakopee or Chaska in the double-elimination playoffs. The top four of eight teams in Section 3B will earn a State berth.
The 2023 Class ‘B’ State Amateur Baseball Tournament, which is also the 100th anniversary of the tournament, is hosted this year by Delano, Dassel, and Litchfield. Additionally, Waconia will host several Class ‘B’ games during the first weekend. The tournament takes place each weekend between August 18th and Labor Day.