One bad inning for Wanamingo or one good inning for Owatonna was the difference in the Aces' 6-5 win Sunday at Dartts Park in Owatonna.

Good teams take advantage of mistakes, and the Jacks made a few. Owatonna hit for the cycle as a team in the fourth inning to take a 6-1 lead. Benjie Hager started the inning with a double, Sam Zappa crunched a triple and then Ryan Thompson followed with a two-run homer and the Aces were in business. They clubbed six hits in the inning and took advantage of a fielding error. Even though they didn't count as miscues in the scorebook, Wanamingo didn't communicate on a fly ball and misjudged another fly ball in the outfield to add to Owatonna's success.

The Jacks didn't go away though. They scored three runs in the top of the fifth. Eric Sviggum led the inning off with a double and then an Owatonna error set things up for Wanamingo. Alex Roosen had an RBI double and Andrew Anfinson a RBI single after a sacrifice fly RBI by Aaron Holmes.

The Jacks got a solo homer by Alex Roosen to open up the seventh inning but were retired in order after that.

Sam Roosen led the ninth inning off with a double that looked like it was going to leave the yard. Owatonna decided to intentionally walk Alex Roosen to put the go-ahead run on base. I was thinking bunt when Aaron Holmes stepped to the plate to get the tying run at third and potential winning run in scoring position, but Holmes hit a one-hopper to the pitcher who threw to third to get the lead runner and then fired to first to get Holmes for a double play. The next batter was fanned to end the game.

Brady Anfinson started the game for Wanamingo and went the first 3 2/3 innings. He took the loss and the Aces countered with Tyler Smith who earned the victory.

Owatonna has a bye next weekend and opens state tournament action Saturday, Aug. 29, at 1:30PM in Watkins. They would play the winner of the Blue Earth versus Lake Henry game.

Wanamingo will play Sunday, Aug. 23, at noon in Watkins against Green Isle. The winner of that game plays Faribault on Saturday, Aug. 29, at 5PM in Cold Spring.

Hampton defeated Blue Earth on Sunday for the Region 4C title and a weekend off. They'll open Aug. 30 at 1:30PM in Watkins and will play the winner of the Belle Plaine versus Hadley game. Blue Earth plays against Lake Henry on Friday, Aug. 21, in Cold Spring at 7:30PM.

Cannon Falls plays Saturday, Aug. 22, at 7:30PM against Roseau in Watkins.

Region 3C runner-up New Market tangles with Hinckley on Sunday, Aug. 23, at noon in Cold Spring. Region 3C third seed Shakopee will play Saturday, Aug. 22, at 11AM in Watkins against Lamberton, and Region 3C fourth seed St. Patrick plays in Cold Spring on Saturday, Aug. 22, at 5PM against New Munich.

By the way, the Faribault Lakers drafted pitchers Dan Feneis (L) from Union Hill, Rick Bell (R) also from Union Hill and Eric Steinhoff (R) of Veseli.

Owatonna drafted pitchers A.J. Yusten (R) from Zumbrota, Kelvin Nelson (L) from Waseca and Tyler Schmitz (R) of Stewartville Racine.

Cannon Falls drafted pitchers Brian Welch (R) of Waterville, Drew Weidner (R) of Randolph and Nolan Grose (R) of Waterville.

Hampton drafted pitchers Brett Gwaltney (R) of Lake City, Derek Masberg (L) and Rich Rients (R) of Waterville.

No word on who Wanamingo drafted.

Owatonna Region 5C Champions
Owatonna Region 5C Champions
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