Behind the fourteen strike outs from Adam Gregg on the mound the Diamond Devils defeat Bertha 3-2 at Dick Putz field in St. Cloud.

The Devils were the first team to get on the board with a run in the second inning.  Lee Gregg led off the inning by drawing a walk.  Ryan Jakubov singled to right to put runners at second and first. Luke Hagen singled in the next at bat and with the center fielder misplaying the ball, Lee scored from second.  The center fielder committed a second error on the play when his throw to third was high allowing Luke to move up to second.  The Devils failed to score another run in the inning as Ryan was caught in a run down after TJ Aalid’s ground ball was fielded by the first baseman.  Ryan made it back to third but Luke had moved up to third and was occupying the base.  Two strikeouts later and Bertha was out of the inning with limited damage.

In the third inning, Ben Smith got a belt high fastball on an 0-2 pitch and drove the ball over the right field fence giving the Devils a two run lead.

Bertha cut the lead in half in the fourth inning.  Pat Riewer led off the inning with a walk.  The next batter struck out but Adam’s curveball got by the catcher allowing Pat to move up to third.  Ethan Bakken flared a ball just past the out stretched glove of Ryan Jakubov in short right center to plate the first run of the game for Bertha.

Bertha tied the game in the sixth inning.  With one out, Jarred Hoemberg topped a ball down the third baseline.  KC Johnson came up on the ball but Jarred beat out the throw to first.  After another strike out,  Kyle Zirges singled to left center to put runners at the corners.  The next batter grounded the ball that forced shortstop Ben Smith to make a diving play however his throw to second was misplayed allowing the run to score.

The Devils scored the game winning run in the seventh inning.  With two outs, Ben Smith walked setting up Adam Gregg.  Adam worked the count full and with two outs Ben took off on the pitchers first movement.  The throw went to first but Ben beat out the throw to second.  Adam drove the next pitch to right center to score Ben easily from second.

With nine outs remaining in the game for Bertha, Adam closed the door on 36 more pitches just giving up one more hit with one out in the ninth inning.