Birds go extra for 1-0 win

What Jimmy Heck didn't get in seven innings and 99 pitches, Scott Quinby got in one inning and six pitches.

Despite a 13-strikeout, four-hit pitching performance by Heck, it was Quinby who came in and worked a quick eighth inning before Jack McGinn's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the inning gave Chester Bird a 1-0 win over South St. Paul in the opening game of the Moose Country Challenge, at Sibley High School.

Heck struck out one batter in the first inning and would strike out two in each of the next six innings to amass his career-high 13 strikeouts. He allowed just five base runners, only one of whom reached third base.

Quinby started the eight inning by getting his first two batters out with one pitch before Jimmy Kaderlik reached base on an error. Running on the first pitch, Kaderlik was thrown out at second base by Grant Besse and The Birds were able to end the game in the first extra inning.

Greg Zeman led off with a single to deep shortstop and stole second base when Joe Melles faked a bunt on the next pitch, moving South St. Paul's defense out of position to cover the steal.

Melles eventually walked and Besse reached base as Ryan Walker, who had just moved to third base after giving way on the mound following a five-hit, 111-pitch performance, was unable to field his sacrifice bunt attempt.

With the bases loaded, McGinn wasted no time attacking the first fastball he saw and hit a fly ball to right center which allowed Zeman to score easily.

The Birds play two games Saturday, at 10 a.m. and 12:15 p.m., at St. Thomas Academy. The opener is against Hamline Purple and is followed by a matchup with tournament host West. St. Paul.

All teams will play at least one game Sunday. The top two teams in each pool move onto the championship while the bottom two teams take part in the consolation bracket. That schedule can be found here.