What an ending! Elrosa Saints save the best for last as they defeat Spring Hill 4-3, winning with Kuefler's walk-off RBI single

Another classic Elrosa vs. Spring Hill game played out tonight. Shown below is the scoreboard at Saints Field following the game.

A few Saints' reserves stand at attention during the National Anthem prior to tonight's game.

Kevin Kuefler's RBI-single shot through the first/second baseman gap to right field scored the game-winning run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth.

• Game recap...

In the second inning, Jonathan Nietfeld's RBI-single on two outs drew first blood. Saints' third baseman Mike Whittemore tagged out Jeff Schoenberg, who tried stealing home plate, to get out of the top half of the frame.

Jeff Schoenberg becomes roadkill in the first inning.


Whittemore would have the lone Saints' hit of the game through the first four innings.

In the top of the fourth, the Chargers added to their 1-0 lead with an RBI-single from Aaron Welle. They added to it in the fifth, with a pop fly attempt in left field on a shot by Sean Schoenberg grazing Andy Mages's glove to bring in Jamie Terres from second base.

Finally in the fifth, veteran Saints' manager Pat Illies led off in the bottom of the fifth with a double shot deep to the center field fence. Steve Mueller followed with a single, and Jonathan Olmscheid then hit an RBI-single out to left field for a 2-1 score.

The Saints would leave two stranded, however, with Jonathan Nietfield grabbing Whittemore's deep hit to center field for the third out.

Aaron Vogt took the mound in the seventh inning, earning two strikeouts to spark the Saints' defense. A double albong the left field line in the eighth was all the Chargers would get off of the Saints' reliever, as he earned two strikeouts on the final two batters in the top of the ninth inning to give fans hope for a miracle.
Things didn't start out too well in the top of the ninth, however, with Illies and Mueller both hitting long pop flies to center field.

Aaron Vogt pitched three strong innings of relief.


Then on a full count, Jonathan Olmscheid was drilled in the helmet by an errant Schoenberg pitch. After getting to first base, he was replaced by pinch runner Darren Wander.

Aaron Vogt, who gives pitchers quite a strike zone, drew a walk and make Saints fans think this just might happen.

The play of the game then took place, when Randy Duevel hit a simple would-be grounder down the middle. It appeared that would be the end of the game, as Chargers' shortstop Jamie Terres scooped it up. He bobbled it, though, letting Duevel safely take first and load the bases.

Saints' leadoff hitter Matt Middendorf took center stage, as he took an 0-2 count pitch from Schoenberg and sent it out to left field, just inside the left-center gap. Wander was well on his way across home plate as the ball fell in outfield grass, and Vogt was given the green light to round third and go for home. With his full strides giving him an extra charge, Vogt slid head first with his left arm stretched out to grab home plate. The slide came just in front of the tag of catcher Nate Terres, and the game was tied at 3-3.

On the next batter, Schoenberg gave an intentional walk to Whittemore, bringing bases loaded once again.

Kevin Kuefler had struck out in his previous four at bats in the game. It didn't matter, though, as he took one of Sean Schoenberg's fastballs and knock it through the first and second baseman into right field. The hit allowed Randy Duevel to score safely from third base, sending the Saints' dugout into a frenzy as they pulled out the come-from-behind win against their neighboring division rivals.

The four-year old traveling trophy (a beer keg with a fancy paint job) would not leave Elrosa on this night.

Aaron Vogt's slide for the third run that tied the game in the bottom of the 9th inning.


Elrosa improves to 4-0 in the Stearns County League North with the win. Spring Hill is now 3-1 in the division.

Here's a video of the game-winning run coming across home plate in the bottom of the 9th inning.


Up next for the Elrosa Saints: a trip to Greenwald on Saturday, May 22, for a 1:30 game against the Cubs.

This weekend's Stearns County League games (Sunday):
Lake Henry at Richmond (1:30)
Meire Grove at Roscoe (1:30)
St.Martin at Farming (2:30 start time)

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