The Otter Gold team played very well in game one against a quality opponent, had a late lead, but couldn’t hold on for the win. Minnetonka Red took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, but Andrew Klinnert provided a clutch two run double to tie the game at 2-2 after one. Minnetonka took a 4-2 lead in the top of the third, but an RBI single by Levi King cut the score to 4-3.

The Otters took the lead in the bottom of the fourth on a long two out, two run double to right center by Robert Ehlert. That put the score at 5-4 Otters. Neither team was able to push across a run in the fifth, but in the top of the sixth Minnetonka rallied to score three runs and take a 7-5 lead. The Otters were unable to get anything going in the bottom of the sixth and took a tough loss 7-5.

Levi king started on the mound and wasn’t as sharp as usual, but he was picked up by Garret Kuhn-Rice who worked three strong innings of relief.

Things really started bad for the Otters in game two. A combination of Otter mistakes and balls softly hit just out of reach put the Otters in a 7-1 hole after one inning. Things didn’t get any better as Sartell scored 5 more runs in the top of the second for a 12-1 lead. The Otters did cut the lead to 12-3 in the bottom of the second on an RBI fielder’s choice by Jon Krava and an RBI base hit by Ethan Schwartz. That was about as close as they could get. Isaac Ellison had a nice at bat to drive in a run but Sartell ran away with it at the end.

Sunday morning the Otter Gold team played a different Sartell team and battled all game long but came up just short, losing 6-4. Kuhn-Rice started the game and pitched very well. Isaac Ellison turned in a very solid three innings of work and Boston Rosin pitched a very good inning. The Otters had the tying run at the plate in the bottom of the sixth but couldn’t get the clutch hit to extend the game, losing 6-4.

The Otters will resume action Wednesday in Evansville and play in a weekend tournament in Breckenridge.