Bandits Edge Past Locke Electric in Opening Round of Class B Tournament
The opening round of the Class B state amateur baseball tournament delivered a tightly contested battle as the Lennox Bandits edged out Groton Locke Electric by a single run, 2-1, earning a berth in the second round.
Lennox entered the game with a modest offensive output, but a timely eighth‑inning surge turned the tide. The Bandits capitalized on a timely hit and aggressive base running to break a 1‑1 deadlock.
Jevin Erickson, a pickup player from Parker, delivered the decisive blow by scoring the game‑winning run in the eighth inning. His sprint across the plate capped a rally that had been sparked by earlier hits.
Mason Reischl contributed the only RBI for Lennox, driving in a run that helped the Bandits take the lead. The offensive spark was complemented by solid pitching performances.
Conner Eich worked six innings on the mound, allowing just six hits and one run while striking out five batters. His effort kept the Bandits in contention despite Groton’s early offensive pressure.
Braxton Musser closed out the game with three innings of shutout baseball, surrendering three hits and striking out four, preserving the narrow lead.
Groton outhit Lennox 9‑6, with Brevin Fliehs, Ben Althoff and Jonah Schmidt each collecting two hits. Schmidt, a Mitchell native and Northern State University player, managed the lone RBI for Locke Electric in the second inning.
Palmer Boyd pitched six strong innings for Groton, limiting the Bandits to one unearned run and striking out eight without issuing a walk. Ryan Groeblinghoff took the loss, yielding one run and one hit while fanning three in the final two frames.
The victory underscores the Bandits’ resilience and sets up an intriguing second‑round matchup as they look to extend their tournament run.