photo by Mike Simmons

Brady Hullopeter delivers a pitch against Wells earlier in the season for New Richland. The Reds will have home field advantage in the playoffs.

Reds win Blue Division

Published Thursday, July 17, 2008

The New Richland Reds secured the No. 1 seed in the Blue Division for the playoffs which begin on Saturday.

The Reds compiled a mark of 10-5 in the league and face Cleveland Saturday at 2 p.m. at home. Only one team will advance through the playoffs to the next round which will be played at Waterville.

New Richland won 4-3 in 11 innings against Minnesota Lake on July 7, defeated Wells 11-1 on July 9, lost to Blue Earth 11-3 on July 11, and defeated Minnesota Lake 6-2 on July 13 to capture first place in the Blue Division.

Lake Crystal finished second with a 9-7 record, Minnesota Lake took third with a 7-9 mark and Cleveland was 1-15 in the regular season.

The Reds won three out of its final four games. Aaron Gilliland drove in Chris Somage for the winning run in the 11th inning against the Cleveland Spiders July 7.

Against Wells New Richland used a six-run outburst in the second inning to power to a 11-1 win.

Blue Earth took the lead in the game July 9 in the fifth inning and increased its lead in the sixth inning with two runs and scored four more in the seventh to hand the Reds its first loss in three game.

New Richland got back on track July 13 against Minnesota Lake with a 6-2 win with a three-run second inning.