Minneapolis Southwest blows by Host Apple Valley 76ers in Gopher Tournament Opener

In a wild finish, Minneapolis Southwest scored four runs in the top of the seventh inning Friday evening to take out the Apple Valley 76ers 8-3 in the opening game of the 2011 Jim Hanus Gopher Classic Baseball Tournament.

The Gopher Tournament is the largest American Legion tournament in he United States with 66 teams playing at 11 sites. Pool play continues through Sunday with the 11 site winners and runner-ups advancing to the championship round.

In the back-and-forth game, Southwest grabbed an early 2-0 lead and held it until Apple Valley scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a 3-2 lead.

Apple Valley's Doug Parks and Casey Killebrew hit back-to-back run-scoring shots to give the 76ers a 3-2 lead in the fourth.

Southwest then took a 4-3 lead with two runs in the top of the sixth, scoring on a passed ball and a RBI single by Sam Riley.

The Minneapolis team then slammed the down on the 76ers in the seventh. Quinlan Milne-Rojek made it a 5-3 lead with an RBI single. Riley was hit by a pitch and Dylan McCreary walked to load the bases with two out.

Lead-off batter Jonah Kaplan then rapped a pitch toward third base but Apple Valley misplayed the ball and allowed three runs to score on a wild throw to first that made the score 8-3.

Even more air left Apple Valley's balloon in the bottom of the seventh when an apparent inside-the-park home run by Dougie Parks was controversially ruled a ground-rule double. Southwest added insult to injury when it turned a double-play immediately after.

Apple Valley was scheduled to play Meridan, Idaho in the second game Friday.

Southwest will play Meridan, Idaho Saturday at 10 a.m. at Apple Valley.