Jaxson Lopez is having a breakout season for Breckenridge. The second baseman is hitting .395 through 48 plate appearances. | Photo by Carol Colby
The Breckenridge Cowboys committed six errors Friday, falling behind early in a 16-9 section home loss to Long Prairie-Grey Eagle.
Hagen Brunkhorst carried the Thunder to victory in a 3-for-5 performance that included two home runs and seven RBIs. Brunkhorst hit his first home run to straightaway center field, and his second cleared the scoreboard in left center.
Leevke Brunkhorst was also a force, batting 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and three runs. Zariel Gonzales also doubled twice and Travis Warner hit a home run.
The Cowboy offense did its part by tallying nine hits. Jaxson Lopez led the effort in a 3-for-5 showing, scoring a pair of runs and plating another. Charlie Kratcha went 2-for-5 atop the order and accounted for four runs. Lawson Oliphant and Connor Ernst doubled for the Cowboys’ only extra-base hits.
Kratcha (4-1) suffered his first loss on the mound. The senior righty put Breckenridge in position to end several innings, but errors prolonged his night and the Thunder eventually caught up to him for 11 hits. Kratcha worked 3 ⅓ innings, allowing three earned runs white striking out three and walking one.
Kratcha’s season numbers remain strong with a 3.54 ERA and a 27:10 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He leads the team with 25 ⅔ innings pitched.
Cooper Roberts entered in relief and allowed five earned runs across two frames. Tucker Snyder closed the contest on one earned run across 1 ⅔ innings.
Max Mitzel earned the win for the Thunder. The righty grinded through 5 ⅔ innings, allowing eight earned runs, walking four and striking out one. Hudson Lieser was excellent in relief, locking down the final four outs in a hitless appearance.
The Cowboys (10-3) host Wahpeton (2-11) on Monday, then travel to Brandon/Evansville (15-1) on Tuesday. The Chargers currently hold the No. 4 seed in Section 6A and the Cowboys are No. 5. Long Prairie-Grey Eagle (10-3) moved into second place, trailing only undefeated Parkers Prairie (14-0) in the section.
