Third-seeded Breckenridge Post 53 faltered defensively with four errors in the sub-state American Legion Baseball Playoffs on Thursday, falling to second-seeded Morris Post 29 by a score of 6-1 in Chokio.
Charlie Kratcha was extremely efficient prior to the defense unraveling, throwing 14 of his first 19 pitches for strikes. The righty pitched four innings while scattering six hits and striking out one. All six runs charged to Kratcha were unearned and he did not issue a walk in the loss.
Breckenridge’s lone RBI came on a Logan Church single in the fifth, as Morris held Post 53 to four hits for the second time this summer.
Lawson Oliphant, Jaxson Riggs and Connor Ernst each singled. Ernst became the first Breckenridge player to reach 20 hits on the season.
Church pitched two scoreless innings of relief with three strikeouts.
Morris was led on the hill by Jack Kehoe. He completed six innings of two-hit baseball, allowing an unearned run while fanning six.
The big right-hander was effectively wild, hitting four batters and walking three more. Kehoe tossed 93 pitches and recorded six strikeouts.
Braden Carlson tossed a scoreless seventh in a non-save situation.
Andrew Marty made several great plays in center field and batted 2-for-4 with a double atop the Morris lineup, scoring twice and tallying two RBIs.
Breckenridge remains alive in the sub-state playoffs and will host fourth-seeded Wheaton at 6 p.m. tonight on B 92.7 FM and KBMW News Live.