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  • Mankato Twins shortstop Todd Standish lunges for a ground ball during the third inning of their playoff game against Lakeville Friday at Franklin Rogers Park. Pat Christman

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August 11, 2012

Mankato Twins qualify for state tournament

By Chad Courrier Free Press Staff Writer

MANKATO — When the summer began, Mankato Twins manager Jay Nessler wasn’t sure what he would get from pitcher Matt Anderson.

But as the season has progressed, the left-hander has become an increasingly important part of the team.

“I was hoping he’d be a second starter for us,” Nessler said. “Then he threw that first doubleheader for us and did a good job. We haven’t played that many games so he hasn’t gotten a lot of starts, but he’s thrown well.”

Anderson allowed one run over six innings as the Twins defeated Lakeville 11-1 in eight innings to win the best-of-3, Section 5B amateur baseball series Friday at Franklin Rogers Park. The Twins scored in each of the first five innings.

The Twins picked up three runs in the first on Jeremy Sudbeck’s sacrifice fly and an infield single by Jovan Rodriguez. An unearned run in the second made it 4-0.

In the third, Ben Kaus picked up an RBI with a single, and Rodriguez’s RBI single highlighted a two-run fourth.

The big damage came in the fourth when a pair of outfield errors led to four runs. Jay Nessler had an RBI groundout in the inning, and Todd Standish scored another on a fielders’ choice.

After Lakeville extended the game with a run in the seventh, Danny Miller launched a solo home run over the right-center fence to end the game in the eighth.

Anderson was the winner, giving up five hits, a walk and eight strikeouts. Joe Kern also pitched two innings.

“I was hoping I’d get a chance (this season),” said Anderson, a Mankato West grad who pitched on the junior varsity at St. Thomas last season. “There’s a lot of good players on this team so I’ve pitched about as much as I thought I would.

“I think I had one bad start. Other than that, I’ve progressed and thrown better and better.”

The Twins (9-2) play at 5 p.m. Sunday against Burnsville or Eagan in the section championship game at Franklin Rogers Park. Both teams advance to the state tournament, with the winner earning a higher seed.

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