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Eric Belter pitched a complete game and struck out 15 to lead the Chiefs past Owatonna 2-1 in the Region 5C semifinals.
The Chiefs will play at Stewartville-Racine at 2 p.m. Sunday in the region championship with the winner clinching a spot at state. Even a loss Sunday would leave the Chiefs one win from earning one of two Region 5C state berths. It would be the Chiefs second trip to state in the past three seasons.
Belter, a Cotter High grad, scattered eight hits and didn’t allow a walk in the win. It was the Chiefs second 2-1 win in as many games at the region tournament.
“He was lights-out all game,” Chiefs manager Ryan Buhler said. “We gave up one run early (in the third inning), but we never let up.”
The Chiefs scored on two-out RBI singles in the sixth and eighth innings. Belter drove in the tying run in the sixth and Andy Biesanz drove in Scott Weiffenbach with the go-ahead run in the eighth. Weiffenbach scored both runs for Winona.
John Skappel, Travis Hengel and Weiffenbach all went 2-for-4 for the Chiefs.
