MILROY — On a perfect day for a baseball game, the two top seeds in Section 3A met in the Championship Bracket at Yankee Field in Milroy. The game featured two of the top pitchers in the Section, Bryce Sneller for Yellow Medicine East and Cody Wichmann of Russell-Tyler-Ruthton.

Earlier in the regular season, YME was able to come out with a 6-1 victory, so RTR was looking to even score in the playoffs. It was a classic pitcher’s duel between the two seniors and the only runs that scored were unearned, giving YME a 2-0 victory.

The fifth inning was crucial for both teams. Nahum Tarin reached first on a one-out grounder that the first baseman couldn’t pick up. After a strikeout, Cody Dahlager came through with an RBI single to put YME up 1-0.

YME did not score in the top of the sixth and RTR came to bat looking to even the score. The bottom of the inning started with a strikeout and a fly out, but Chase Christianson drew a walk. Cody Wichmann singled, putting runners on first and third and RTR loaded the bases with a walk to Blake Christianson. But Sneller was able to get a strikeout to end the inning, with YME still on top 1-0.

YME was able to get an insurance run in the seventh. Drew Almich got a one-out single and, after a fielder’s choice, Tarin was able to score on an RTR throwing error, making the score 2-0. RTR came up with the bottom of their order scheduled to bat, but Sneller got two groundouts and a fly ball to end the game.

For YME, Bryce Sneller finished the game allowing only three hits, getting eight strikeouts, and only giving up two walks.

“I hope I can keep it going. I love playing for this team but I was really nervous when they loaded the bases,” a modest Sneller said after the game. “The defense came up big for us and we were able to come out with the win. Cody Wichmann and I are good friends, so it was a really fun game for me, but we may end up facing each other again if they win on Tuesday night.”

Cody Wichmann also pitched a fine game, but he was victimized by two errors. He allowed five hits, three walks and registered six strikeouts.

YME Head Coach Trevor Schulte said, “RTR is one heck of a baseball team, and that was one terrific game. For a high school game, we had two great pitchers going at each other. Both sides had great at-bats, and it’s tough that one team had to lose. Both of these teams deserved to win, and it was just good all-around baseball game. RTR is a well-coached team, and Coach Fredrickson does a great job with those kids. It was a good matchup with number one seeds, and we are happy to come out on top.”

RTR now falls into the Elimination Bracket to face the winner of the MCC and TMB game to be played on Tuesday night. YME will play the winner of that game on Thursday on the Milroy Irish Yard.