The Mon-Clair League finally caught a break from the weather and got a full set of games in over the weekend as local teams gear up for the Midsummer Baseball Classic at Borsch Park in Valmeyer this weekend.

Things are tight atop the Monroe Division, with Waterloo, Valmeyer and Millstadt all tied for fist place after recent action.

The Valmeyer Lakers (12-6) took three of four games over the weekend to keep pace in the division.

The Lakers took two from the Belleville Rockies at home on Saturday, winning 5-4 and 7-2.

Kyle Dermody went 3-for-3 and Mitch Meyer added a 2-for-4 showing in the 5-4 win.

In game two, Jeremiah Bergheger continued his hot-hitting summer, smacking two home runs. Meyer went 4-for-4 with two doubled to cap off a strong day.

Andy Skaer pitched seven innings to pick up his fourth win of the summer.
On Sunday, the Lakers traveled to SPPS Field to face Waterloo, salvaging a split with the Millers.

Waterloo took game one, 9-1, limiting the Lakers to just two hits.
The Lakers bounced back to take game two, 7-5. Ben Thoma went 2-for-4 with a double. Also adding doubles were Bergheger, AJ Skaer, Matt Reinholz, Justin Lilly and Nick Stading.

Bergheger leads the team with a .451 average and three home runs.

The Millers have been affected the most by the rain this season, getting in only 14 games so far. Still, they have put together a good start at 10-4.

The Millers took both games of a doubleheader against the Columbia Saints on Saturday, 15-0 and 10-0, before the Sunday split with Valmeyer.

Larry Schmas leads the Miller hitters with an average around .475. Garrett Schlecht had a strong performance at the plate and in the outfield on Sunday and has posted an average above .400 so far this summer in his first stint with the Millers.

John Auble leads the Waterloo pitching staff with a 1.27 ERA.

The Millstadt VFW (11-5) had a good weekend as well, winning all four games.

Millstadt took two from the Edwardsville Mavericks on Saturday at Mueth Field, 13-3 and 6-1.

Cal Kossina and Jarod Mueth each went 2-for-3 in the 13-3 win, as Otto Roberts picked up the victory on the mound.

Mitch Matecki and Brian Lupa each collected two hits in the 6-1 win, as pitcher Brandon Saak picked up the win.

On Sunday, Millstadt swept a doubleheader with the Saints, 12-2 and 13-1.

Mueth, Saak and Tony Kossina were the offensive stars on Saturday, collecting multiple hits each.
Mueth (.488, two home runs, 21 RBIs) has been on fire at the plate and Alex Kollack leads the pitching staff. Tony Kossina leads Millstadt with a .517 average.

The Mid-Summer Baseball Classic takes place Friday through Sunday at Borsch Park in old Valmeyer.

The tournament is set to start on Friday with a full slate of games starting at 9 a.m. with Belleville taking on Millstadt.

Game two will feature the defending champion St. Louis Spikes taking on Cape Girardeau at 11:30 a.m.

Game three has the Millers taking on Fairview Heights at 2 p.m., and the final game of the day has the Lakers facing off with the St. Louis Printers at 4:30 p.m.

Saturday’s games will start at 9 a.m. and the Sunday action begins at 10 a.m.

For a full bracket, see page 3B of this week’s paper.