By DALE KUGATH
Scoop Sports Editor

WASECA - Mankato's Ryan Greene struck out 19 Waseca hitters to lead the defending state champ Twins to a 6-0 triumph over the Braves at Tink Larson Field Aug. 7.

The win ended Waseca's season as the Twins swept the Section 4B series 2-0. It was Mankato's fourth win of the summer over the Braves, in which it outscored them 49-8. This was the first game that went a full nine innings.

Mankato improved to 21-2 for the summer, and will battle Marshall for the section championship.

The Braves lost their final five games of the summer to finish 13-14 overall. Waseca went 9-9 at home this year.

Greene helped himself with a two-run single in the second inning for a 2-0 Mankato lead.

Jay Nessler belted a solo home run in the third inning. Green picked up his third RBI of the game later in the inning for a 4-0 Twins' advantage.

Mankato stretched its lead to 5-0 in the sixth inning. Ben Kaus doubled, stopped at third on a Chase Brown base hit and scored when Zach Danielson grounded out to first base.

The Twins pushed across a final run in the eighth inning on three walks and a Steven Helget single.

Greene allowed just one runner to reach second base against him. That came in the second inning when Steve Hovland and Scott Kaminski opened the inning with singles.

However, Greene fanned Bryan Murphy and Grady Glynn and got Chris Glynn to pop up.

Greene had at least one strikeout in every inning. He fanned the side in the second and eighth innings and had two strikeouts in six different innings.

Greene gave up just four hits and three walks in going the distance.

Kaminski had two of Waseca's four hits.

Hovland and Kelvin Nelson were the only other Braves to hit safely. Jim Loonan walked twice.

The Braves made two errors and stranded six runners in the game.

Caleb Srp took the loss, leaving him 5-5 for the season. He gave up eight hits and four earned runs over the first six innings. Srp walked four, hit two and did not record a strikeout.

Nelson hurled the final three innings, allowing two hits and one earned run. He walked five and struck out two.

Danielson was the lone Mankato player with two hits in the game. He also walked twice.

Nessler and Greene both had a hit and two walks. Greene drove in three runs. Kaus had a double for the winners.

Mankato played errorless ball and stranded 14 baserunners.

Waseca's summer is over. Mankato will battle Marshall for the section championship.