Fourth-Inning Eruptions Propel Lions to Pair of Playoff Wins
Spring Grove (6-seed, 13-7) advanced through the Section 1A baseball bracket with two very similar wins over Wabasha-Kellogg (11-seed, 6-14), 10-4, and Mabel-Canton (14-seed, 7-14), 8-1. Both games followed strangely similar scripts. Versus the Falcons in the Round of 16, the Lions wiped out a 2-0 deficit with a six-run outburst in the fourth inning and then exploded again with a four-run sixth inning. Against the Cougars in the quarterfinals, Spring Grove wiped out a 1-0 deficit with a four-run outburst in the fourth inning and again added four runs in the sixth inning. Against W-K, the outcome came down to defense. W-K had the most hits, eight to seven, and the only two extra-base hits. Falcon pitchers issued seven free passes, Lion hurlers five. W-K stranded eight runners; SG nine. However, Wabasha-Kellogg had five errors, Spring Grove zero. There were two Falcon errors in each of the Lions’ two big innings. The Lions, with only one earned run, took advantage by crowding six of their seven hits into those two, explosive innings. Brandon Jahnke was great with the glove and at the plate (2-3, 3 RBI). Elijah Solum (2-5, RBI, 2 R) swiped three bases. Other hits came from Tysen Moen (1-1, RBI), Ezra Griffin (1-3, RBI, R) and Ben Udstuen (1-3, 2 R). Jaxon Strinmoen (4 2/3 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 1 K) picked up his second pitching win in nine days against the Falcons. Ben Udstuen (2 2/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K) earned the save. It was the third straight year the Lions have opened the playoffs hosting W-K. Mabel-Canton came in for the second straight year with a first-round upset of Kenyon-Wanamingo, this year a 2-0 shutout of the 3-seed Knights (See “Baseball” for more). Spring Grove out-hit the Cougars nine to six, including both extra-base hits – RBI doubles by Braedon Solie (2 for 3) and Zach Brumm (1 for 1). The Brumm blast gave the Lions a 2-1 lead. Eight Lions had base hits, seven scored, and six had RBI. The only Cougar run came with a first-inning walk issued to Isaac Underbakke (2-2), who would score on a single by Darian Hershberger (2-2). Other hits came from Tyler Larson (1-3) and Nolan Garness (1-3). Jahnke was the winning pitcher (4 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K), relieved by Strinmoen (3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 K, 0 BB). Underbakke (3 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 5 K) absorbed the pitching loss before being relieved by Larson (3 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 0 K). The Cougars dropped into the elimination bracket versus Rushford-Peterson (See “Trojans Push to Memorial Day”). The teams had split their SEC series. SG (6-seed, 15-7) moved on to face Lyle/Pacelli (2-seed, 19-2) in the 1A semis.
Trojans Push to Memorial Day
Rushford-Peterson baseball (10-seed, 7-13) got two wins in its first three playoff games to push to a contest on Memorial Day. The Trojans first upset Lewiston-Altura (7-seed, 9-11) in the 1A Round of 16. R-P broke a 3-3 tie with a five-run fourth. Rylan Schneider had a two-run single in the inning. R-P won by a final of 9-5. Schneider (3-4) drove in three runs and collected the win (7 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K). Carson Johnson (2-3, 2B, 2 R), Evan Kammerer (2-4, RBI), Caden Johnson (1-4, RBI, R), Jonah Bunke (1-3, 2B, R), and Evan Skalet (1-3, 2B) also contributed. L-A won both regular season games. In Austin in the quarters, the Trojans (10-seed, 8-13) took on defending 1A champion Lyle/Pacelli (2-seed, 18-2). Up 4-2, L/P had a three-run sixth to lead 7-2. Trailing by that score in their final at bat, R-P plated two runs and had the bases loaded with one out but a strikeout and a fly-out ended it. The Athletics prevailed 7-4. Schneider (3-4, RBI, R) was again big. Cad. Johnson (1-3) had R-P’s other RBI. Jonah Bunke (1-3, R, 3 2/3 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K) took a no decision in relief of Cad. Johnson (2 1/3 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, Loss). R-P (10-seed, 8-14) then played Mabel-Canton (14-seed, 7-15) in a wild elimination game. Seven pitchers were used in a nine-inning contest. R-P built a 5-0 lead midway through three only for M-C to score seven unanswered runs and lead 7-5. Cayden Tollefsrud had a two-run triple to put M-C ahead (and he scored on an error on the play). The Trojans then had a three-run fifth and added a run in the seventh to lead 9-7 heading to the Cougars’ seventh. M-C then started with back-to-back singles from Isaac Underbakke and Tyler Larson. Each came around to score to tie the game at 9-9, sending it extra innings. In the ninth, R-P started with back-to-back singles from Bunke and Schneider. A Kammerer sac fly plated one run. A Skalet single plated the second. R-P went ahead 11-9. M-C had two in scoring position in their ninth with one out, but a line-out and a ground out ended it. The Trojans prevailed 11-9. Bunke (5-6, two 2B, 2 RBI, 3 R) had a big game to lead R-P. He also collected the pitching save (1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K). Creighton Hoiness (1-4, 2B, R) drove in three runs. Kammerer (2-6, 2 RBI), Skalet (2-6, RBI), and Schneider (2-5, RBI, R) each had two hits. Cayden Lea and Zach Baker scored twice. Cad. Johnson (4 2/3 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K) collected the relief win. Larson (4-5, RBI, 2 R) and Tollefsrud (2-5, two 3B, 3 RBI, 2 R) led M-C. Underbakke (2-5, RBI, 2 R) also had two hits. Darian Hershberger (1-5) drove in two runs. M-C’s season ends at 7-16. R-P (9-14) moved on to another elimination game with J-W-P.
1A and 1AA Baseball Playoffs (5/22 & 5/25)
(1AA Round of 16) 9-seed Chatfield (9-10) 2, 8-seed Cannon Falls (9-10) 10 (C: Westin Nolte 2-4; Jack Dornack 1-3, RBI; Kaisen Johnson 1-2, R. CF: Jack Meyers 7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 10 K, 1-4, HR, 3 RBI, 2 R. Gophers finish at 9-11)
(1AA Round of 16) 14-seed GMLOK (6-14) 0, 3-seed Zumbrota-Mazeppa (12-6) 15 [5] (GMLOK finishes at 6-15)
(1A Round of 16) 12-seed Houston (9-11) 1, 5-seed Goodhue (9-10) 2 [10] (H: M. Rohweder 8 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 12 K, No Decision; Zach Olson 1-4, RBI; Hector Steinfeldt 1-4, R; Dawson Pedretti 1-2. G: Hayden Holm 10 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, Win. In the top of the tenth, the game-winning run plated via walk, wild pitch, dropped-third-strike, and wild-pitch combo. Houston finishes at 9-12)
(1A Round of 16) 14-seed Mabel-Canton (6-14) 2, 3-seed Kenyon-Wanamingo (13-6) 0 (M-C: C. Tollefsrud 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K, Win; Tyler Larson 1-2, R; Hayden Erickson 0-0, 2 RBI. KW: Will VanEpps 7 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 14 K, Loss. In a game with just three hits, M-C scored two in the fourth inning on a sacrifice bunt. KW put a couple runners on in the seventh, but Tollefsrud ended the game with a strikeout. The senior set down 11 straight leading to the last inning. The Cougars also pulled a first round upset last year versus the Knights)
(1A Round of 16) 15-seed Fillmore Central/Lanesboro (1-19) 1, 2-seed Lyle/Pacelli (17-2) 11 (FCL finishes at 1-20)
(1AA Quarterfinal) 8-seed Cannon Falls (10-10) 4, 1-seed Caledonia (19-1) 2 (C: Hunter Goetzinger 3-4, 2B, RBI; Garrett Konz 1-2, R, 6 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, Loss; Landon O’Heron 0-1, R. CF: Ryan Hjellming 6 2/3 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 8 K, Win; Jackson Ekstrom 2-3, 2 RBI; J. Meyers 1-1, 2 R. Cannon plated two in the first on one hit, as two walks scored. Caledonia tied it in the third. Cannon had three of their five hits in the sixth inning, plating two runs. With two outs in the bottom of the seventh and trailing 4-2, the Warriors loaded the bases but a strikeout ended the game. Wild pitches aided all four Bomber runs to score including plating two directly. Caledonia’s epic 19-game win streak came to an end)