Elrosa Saints win walk-off thriller, Legion Post 288 stays alive in sub-districts

The Elrosa Saints amateur baseball team has clinched the Stearns County League North division title, the 11th overall in program history. They did so tonight thanks to late-game heroics at the plate combined with speedy baserunning as they edged visiting New Munich by a 3-2 score. Blaine Fischer's RBI-single with no outs scored Will VanBeck from third base for the game winner.

New Munich had just tied the game with one run in the top of the ninth inning. Video from the end of the game is uploading.

Ethan Vogt started for Elrosa, and Will VanBeck was the closer. For New Munich, Ty Reller pitched all nine innings. Each team finished with 7 hits. Jackson Peter hit a solo home run in the bottom of the first.

*Here's video featuring the bottom of the ninth inning:


That was some rough video, but it's better than nothing. I had my Porsche camera in action for the first time at a night-time baseball game. I did not know what I was doing with it, although I have an idea now on what settings work best under baseball stadium lighting.

NEXT: the regular season concludes for Elrosa with a trip to neighboring rival Spring Hill on Sunday with a 1:30 p.m. contest.

Also, the Region 15C tournament will be hosted in Lake Henry with night games in St. Martin.

In a sub-district elimination game at Benson, the Brooten American Legion Post No. 288 baseball team defeated Benson/Hancock 4-1 to advance to the championship game. Luke Dingmann pitched a complete game with five strikeouts. They play tomorrow night at 6 p.m. at Minnewaska Area high school where they face Glenwood/Lowry. They need to win twice to advance to the district tournament.

COMING UP! The 121st annual Stearns County Fair is coming in Sauk Centre from July 26 to July 30. They will advertise in the Bonanza Valley Voice across the next two weeks.