The Rhein Rockets played an abbreviated semi-final playoff round against the Neudorf Posse in Richardson Pioneer Men's Fastball League action.
The Rockets earned their berth in the series defeating the Fishing Lake Cubs in two straight games, both by rather lopsided scores; 10-0 and 11-1, and hosted the action Saturday.
The teams had agreed to play two five-inning games, and if a team did not sweep the pair, they would play an inning-by-inning tie-breaker with the first team with an edge at the completion of an inning advancing to the final.
In game one, powered by an Evan Neibrandt home run the Rockets found themselves in a 5-5 tie after five innings, sending the game to an extra frame.
In the added inning Rhein pitcher Terry Peppler helped his own cause getting to second base and scoring when Grant Edgar registered a hit to plate the game-winning RBI.
Peppler headed to the pitching circle in game two as well, and in spite of giving up long balls to Drew Hoehn, Chris Baber and Sean Parkin, completed the game to earn the win as all three deep shots came with the bases empty.
The Rocket offence broke through in game two, including another home run by Neibrandt, a three-run shot in the third inning.
In the fourth inning Aaron Rathgeber had a bases-loaded single to score two, and a wild pitch plated a third run.
In the end the Rockets had won 12-3, with Peppler, at age 58, throwing all 11 innings.
Chris Baber took both losses for the Posse.
On the other side of the league schedule the Wynyard Blues defeated the Rosebud Royals 7-1 and 7-0 in modified best-of-three to make the semis.
Michael Jordan was the winning pitcher in both games.
In the other quarter final on the western side of the draw the Junior Royals topped Foam Lake 7-0 in game one, the Royals helped by a Luke Scutchings home run.
Koby Faubert was the winning pitcher allowing only one hit in five innings. (5.0 IP, 1 hit)
James Anderson took the loss.
Foam Lake came back in game two to win 4-3.
The winning pitcher was Ryan Junop, while Lucas Ochitwa took the loss.
As a result of the split for the first time the third game was needed to decide the series. It was an extra inning sudden death format with a runner starting at second.
And the Junior Royals earned the series win 1-0 in the extra frame.
Koby Faubert was in the circle for the Royals, while Ryan Junop took the loss for Foam Lake.
Kaden Fedak hit a double to lead off the bottom of the inning for the win.
The Wynyard Blues and Rosebud Jr Royals advance to semi-final in Wynyard Sunday.
In game one it was all Blues and they r0lled to a 7-0 win.
In game-two, the Royals bounced back. Led by strong pitching from Kody Faubert, the Royals were able to rally for a 6-3 victory to even the series.
In the 'extra-inning style' game-three, each team started with a runner on second base.
The Royals Kaden Fedak advanced the runner with a groundout, with Luke Scutchings hitting an RBI fly to right field to take the 1-0 lead.
In the bottom half of the inning, Faubert shut down the Blues batters allowing the Royals to advance to the finals.
With the Rosebud Jr Royalswinning, the finals have been set for the modified best-of-three.
Rhein head west to play in Wadena Friday at 6:30, in a full seven-inning game.
Saturday game two will be at the Rockets home field at 2:00 p.m., with another full seven-inning game.
If a one-inning game three required to decide the championship it will happen at the conclusion of game two.
