The Blue Sox came a few steps short of knocking off the defending ‘A’ state amateur baseball champs in a 5-4 loss to Minnetonka in the second round of the SPAMtownChallenge in Marcusen Park Friday.

Austin (6-11 overall) had the tying run headed for home when pinch runner Brandon Rector was thrown out at the plate after trying to score from first on a double by Pat Wolard that bounced off the left field wall.

“We needed Pat to hit a gap and he did. We came up a couple of feet short,” Blue Sox manager Josh Kunze said. “There were two perfect throws on that play, by the centerfielder and the cut guy. What do you do? Those guys are good.”

The seventh inning started with Nate Johnson drawing a walk and Dan Swift hitting a line drive single off of the right field wall.

“It got inside on me,” Swift said. “I thought I might of been able to squeak it out, but I didn’t get extended and it was on the inside half of the barrel.”

Swift gave the Blue Sox a 3-0 lead with a deep three-run homer over the right field fence in the third inning.

“I got enough of it and it carried,” Swift said. “For whatever reason the ball’s being carrying here. Usually you’ve got to get a little more to get it out.”

The Millers (26-3 overall) tied the game in the third when Blaine Rutledge hit a two-out, run scoring single and Jake Waldman followed that hit with a two-run homer in the fourth inning. Minnetonka scored two more to take the lead in the fifth, where Steve Schmitz and Kevin Hoy had back-to-back run scoring singles.

“To take Minnetonka to a play at the plate to tie it up. You can’t ask anything more,” Swift said. “They’re such a quality ball club, and on top of it, they’re quality guys.”

Blue Sox pitcher Joe Huffman allowed eight his in the loss while striking out two.

“We’ll take some positives out of it,” Kunze said. “Huffman’s still working his way back from a sore elbow and he kept it down and did every thing we asked of him tonight.”

The Blue Sox can no longer advance out of Pool B as they have two losses.

Minnetonka won the SPAMtown Challenge last season.

The Blue Sox will play Prescott at approximately 9:30 p.m. Saturday.

Millers 5, Blue Sox 4

Blue Sox pitching: Joe Huffman (L), 6 IP, 8 H, 3 BB, 5 ER, 2 K

Blue Sox hitting: Nate Johnson, 0-of-3, BB, SB; Aaron Port, 2-of-3, BB; Andy Swank, 0-of-2, BB; Dan Swift, 2-of-4, HR, 3 RBIs; Pat Wolard, 2-of-4, double, RBI; Duell Higbe, 0-of-3; Jason Danzer, 1-of-3; Casey Toops, 1-of-3; Joe Kroc, 0-of-1, BB; Josh Kunze, 0-of-1

Millers pitching: Derek Mason (W), 7 IP, 6 H, 3 BB, 4 ER, 6 K

Millers hitting: Chris Orbain, 1-of-4; Joe Aberella, 0-of-3; Joe Shallenberger, 0-of-2; Blaine Rutledge, 2-of-3, RBI; Jake Waldman, 1-of-3, HR, 2 RBIs; Steve Schmitz, 2-of-3, RBI; Kevin Hoy, 1-of-1, RBI; Ryan Dalam, 0-of-2; Scott Coolong, 0-of-2; Brandon Broxey, 1-of-2