Richfield Reds earn runner-up honors in Grand Rapids Legion tourney

 The Reds American Legion baseball team came home with a runner-up trophy from the Grand Rapids invitational tournament.

Richfield won four straight games before losing 11-9 to North St. Paul in the title game.

"We attained double digits in hits during every tournament game," said Reds coach Dave Boie. "All 16 of our players contributed hits and RBIs.

"This Richfield team had the best five-game offensive stretch it has had for years."

Richfield's pitching depth was displayed in the three-day event as coach Boie used nine-different hurlers.

Richfield opened the tourney with a 10-2 triumph over Farmington. Winning pitcher Corey Fitzgerald threw a complete game allowing three hits and striking out seven in seven innings.

Tyler Klopp contributed three hits and four RBI. Dan Beyel came through with two hits and four RBI.

Tyler Jegtvig and Derek Pederson provided two RBI each. Cam Dearing scored three runs.

Richfield defeated Marshall 12-2 in the second round. Andy Petersen earned the pitching win giving up two runs in six innings. Andre Hill pitched one inning of scoreless relief.

Again, the Reds had contributions from many batsmen. Klopp had two hits, one RBI and three runs scored.

Jordan Zoellmer connected for four hits and scored twice. Jegtvig collected two hits and two RBI.

Raheim Hampton had three hits and two RBI. Ryder Klopp and Dearing chipped in with two hits apiece.

Richfield had a much closer game in the third round before defeating North St. Paul 11-9 in nine innings. Zoellmer was the winning pitcher.

The Reds rallied with three runs in the seventh inning to tie the game at 5-5. Peterson singled and scored on Dearing's double.

Hampton singled in another run and Jegtvig doubled in the third run.

Richfield Reds scored six runs in the ninth. Ryder Klopp's single drove in three runs. Joe Griffin provided the go-ahead RBI single.

Peterson also had a two-run double. Ryder Klopp finished with three hits and six RBI.

In the championship round, Richfield beat Northfield 8-6 as Pederson was the winning pitcher. Fitzgerald was credited with a save.

Zoellmer had three hits and four RBI. Jegtvig added three hits to the winning cause.

North St. Paul edged Richfield 11-9 in the championship game.

The Reds led 6-4 before giving up three runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth and seventh innings. Richfield cut the deficit to 11-9 in the bottom of the seventh but left the tying runs on base.

Richfield Reds are 13-5 overall and 6-1 in the District 5 league standings.