Displaying terrific play in clutch situations for the second straight game, the Elrosa Saints amateur baseball team emerged as Stearns County League North playoff champions after winning 6-4 against top-seeded Spring Hill this afternoon. It marks the 13th time that Elrosa has claimed a division playoff title; they've now been SCL-North champions in 2022, 2023 and now 2024.
With the game tied at 4-4 going into the 9th inning, Derek Wiener drilled a two-RBI home run on two outs past the left field fence. That two-run lead held up for the final score.
Elrosa took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning on Peyton Winter's RBI-single to drive Gavin Kampsen home. Kampsen hit a one-out double to get into scoring position. The Chargers forged a 3-1 lead with an RBI on a hit batsman and then a two-RBI single by Jamie Terres.
Ashton Dingmann led off the top of the sixth inning with a solo home run to cut the deficit to 3-2.
In the top of the 8th, Ashton Dingmann walked and took third base when Gavin Kampsen advanced on an error at first base on a ground ball play. Luke Illies then delivered with an RBI-single to centerfield to make it a 3-3 tie. With Kevin Kuefler batting, a wild pitch got away from catcher Nate Terres, which allowed Kampsen to score a go-ahead run on two outs.
The Chargers tied it at 4-4 in the bottom of the 8th on Austin Schoenberg's RBI-single.
*Here's a video from the top of the 9th inning:
Here's action from the bottom of the 9th inning as the Saints shut the door on Spring Hill:
Payton VanBeck started and pitched 5 innings, and Ashton Dingmann closed while picking up the win.
The Saints (14-7 overall) take the top seed from the SCL-North into the Region 15C tournament. Their region opener is on Friday, August 2 in Watkins against the Central Valley League play-in game winner. First pitch is at 6 p.m. in the first of two region games that night.
Later today...
In the second game at Spring Hill today, New Munich faces Greenwald in a division playoffs elimination game. I'll get this blog post updated late tonight after I hear about draftees and the outcome of the elimination game...plus I need SCL-South playoff scores. The evening will be chewed up by gardening plus hashing out details on a 3-on-3 girls' basketball team for the Kerkhoven Town and Country Days! That is an exciting upcoming event. We have an all-fifth grade team created and registered for Saturday, July 27 at Pillsbury Park. They will compete in a grades 5-6 bracket starting at 9 a.m.
UPDATE! for the first time in...awhile! The Greenwald Cubs are heading to the Region 15C tournament. They won 4-1 today against New Munich to punch their ticket to Watkins.
Spring Hill enters the Region 15C tournament as the SCL-North's No. 2 seed, and they open their quest for the state tournament with a 3:30 p.m. game on Saturday, August 3 in Watkins against St. Martin, the SCL-South's No. 1 seed. The Martins edged Farming 7-6 this afternoon to claim the SCL-South division playoff title. In an elimination game, Lake Henry suffered a heartbreaking 6-5 loss in 11 innings to Richmond, who punches through to regions as the SCL-South's No. 3 seed.
