Sixteen became eight in the first weekend of the Class B State Amateur Baseball Tournament in Litchfield.

The eight first-round match-ups brought suspense, upsets and dominating performances from individuals and teams.

NO-DOUBT PERFORMANCES

Four of the eight games were blowouts with Beaudreau’s of St. Cloud leading the way with 16 runs scored. Seventeen hits (top seven hitters were 16-of-32 with four doubles, a home run, 14 RBIs) and 11-0 lead led the Saints to a win over region champion Coon Rapids.

Blaine opened the Class B Tournament with an 18-hit performance in a 16-4 win over Duluth. An eight-run fourth inning broke open a 3-2 contest for the Fusion. Corey LaPlante and Ben Danielson each had four hits in five at-bats.

On Sunday, two of the favorites, Moorhead and Miesville evoked 10-run rules on state newcomer Champlin and Monticello, respectively. Matt Van der Bosch hit a three-run homer for the Mudhens with Jacob Dickmeyer pitching seven complete for the win.

For Moorhead, a three-run walk-off homer from pinch hitter Chris Clemenson sent the Brewers to the double elimination portion of the state tournament. Landon Uetz reached base four times, scoring all four times, for Moorhead.

NAIL-BITERS

No-hit until the seventh inning, shutout into the eighth, Chaska erupted for four runs to beat Rochester to open the action on Sunday. Matt Meyer struck out 11 Cubs, pitching 7 2/3 innings, unable to get the final out in the eighth.

The eighth inning was special for Shakopee as well on Saturday. Trailing 6-4 to Forest Lake, the Indians plated six runs to rally for the win. Steve Boldt had the critical hit, a bases-clearing double in the 10-8 Shakopee win. Mr. Class B, Chris Rupert, picked up the win in relief for the Indians.

The defending state champions, Dundas, were ousted by St. Michael and Scott Lieser, who pitched a four-hitter in the complete game win. Lieser, who had nine strikeouts, outdueled former St. Paul Saints pitcher Charlie Ruud.

ONE FOR THE AGES

Austin did something not many have in state tournament play – beat Cold Spring’s multi-time MVP Zach Femrite. Solo runs in the ninth and 11th inning helped the Greyhounds get past Femrite, who struck out 12 batters in the 174-pitch complete game. Matt Raso hit a home run in the 11th inning for the final difference.

SECOND WEEKEND

Class B resumes on Friday, Aug. 26 in Hutchinson (5/7:30 p.m.) – Chaska vs. Miesville, and Moorhead vs. St. Michael; and in Dassel (5/7:30 p.m.) Blaine vs. Beaudreau’s Saints, and Shakopee vs. Austin Greyhounds.

Winners play at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 27 in Litchfield.

FIRST WEEKEND MVPs

Pete Ohnsorg, Chaska Cubs: Dueling with Rochester’s Matt Meyer, Ohnsorg made big pitches at big times, throwing a complete-game shutout. He struck out three batters in allowing eight singles, one double and two walks.

Steve Boldt, Shakopee Indians: A bases-clearing double from the third hitter in Shakopee’s order capped a 10-6 win over Forest Lake. Boldt was 2-for-5 with four RBIs and a double.

Corey LaPlante, Blaine Fusion: The center fielder went 4-for-5 with four RBIs and two doubles in a 16-4 win over Duluth.

Brian Sprout, Miesville Mudhens: Four hits in five at-bats with two runs scored and two RBIs was the offensive box line for the Miesville second baseman in a 13-3 win over Monticello.

Dylan Deavy, Moorhead Brewers: The Moorhead starter went 6 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on two hits with six strikeouts.