Pitching performances highlight Chester Bird sweep

John Backes was 6-for-8 at the plate on

the day and also pitched his first

complete to lead Chester Bird into the

Lakeview Classic semifinals.

Complete-game pitching performances by Mikey McGill and John Backes propelled Chester Bird to a 10-2 win over Proctor and a 12-4 win over Superior on day two of the Lakeview Classic.

The Birds put together a trio of three-run innings in the win over Proctor to complete pool play with a 3-0 record. Backes went four-for-four at the plate with four runs batted in to pace a 12-hit attack. Robby Sutherland had a double and a triple in the game while scoring three times while adding two RBI.

While the Chester Bird offense was putting together its third consecutive double-digit run total, McGill was keeping Proctor at bay. He allowed just two base runners in the first three innings before walking three batters to load the bases with one out in the fourth inning.

Matt Dolsen stepped to the plate with the Rails trailing 6-0 and promptly lifted a fly ball near the foul line in front of The Birds' right fielder Sam Lynch. Proctor's Ryan McCarthy had to hold near third base before the ball fell safely to the ground but Lynch made a perfect throw to Gabe MacDonald at home plate for a force out and McGill induced a ground out to get out of the inning.

He took a one-hitter into the sixth inning before Evan Scherber led off the frame with a single and, one out later, Cody Dolsen lifted a two-run home run to left field.

McGill's first complete game and victory for Chester Bird saw him allow three hits and two runs over the seven innings while walking five and striking out four.

After his four-hit performance at the plate, Backes took the mound to start The Birds' quarterfinal game against Superior on the Reds' home field.

He suffered a rough start to the outing, giving up two runs in the first inning and two more unearned runs in the second. However, after hitting Superior's Sam Schiff with a pitch to bring home the Reds' fourth run, he settled down and retired 11 consecutive batters, going on to allow just one hit over his final five and two-thirds innings.

Chester Bird scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning and a single run in the third inning before blowing the game open with a five-run fourth.

The inning began with walks to Marcus Barone, Sam Lynch and Robby Sutherland to load the bases with no one out and end the outing of Superior starting pitcher Tyler Long.

Jimmy Heck's RBI double would highlight the fourth for The Birds and he would add another RBI single in a four-run fifth inning.

Heck had three hits, drove in three runs and scored three more to lead Chester Bird's 13-hit attack. Gabe MacDonald also drove in three runs, two of which came on sacrifice fly outs.

In his first complete game, Backes followed up his earlier 4-for-4 performance by going 2-for-4. On the mound, he allowed six hits while walking three and striking out seven.

With the quarterfinal win over Superior, The Birds advance to semifinal play and a 9 a.m. meeting with Wayzata at Wade Stadium. Both teams will play a 2 p.m. game, Sunday, with the winner playing in the title game while the loser plays in the third-place game.