Owatonna Aces Drop a Pair of Weekend Games

Fans got their money's worth, and then some, at Saturday's home opener for the Owatonna Aces amateur baseball team at Fuller Field at Dartt's Park. Waseca came away with a 10-8 win in a three-hour plus ball game. And just three bucks got fans in. A great crowd turned out on the warm evening. Owatonna lost 5-0 at Stewartville-Racine on Sunday.

In Saturday's game, the teams combined for 15 hits (Braves outhitting the Aces 8-7), a staggering 29 walks (Braves walked 19 Aces' batters), 29 runners left on base (Aces stranded 15 of those) and six errors (all committed by Owatonna). There wasn't a single 1-2-3 inning for either team.

Waseca scored in each of the first six innings and never trailed. Owatonna outfielder Johnny White hit a two-run single in the second to tie the game at 2-2. He also worked a bases-loaded walk in the third to tie the game at 3-3.

The Braves scored the next six runs over three innings for a 9-3 lead. Zach Hoehn hit a line drive homerun over the left field fence. Owatonna errors helped the Braves build their lead.

Waseca starter Cam Madsen pitched into the seventh inning despite walking 13 batters. He had a one-hitter going until Aces' catcher Tucker Alstead hit a long home run to right-center in the sixth. Unofficially, Madsen threw 128 pitches.

Owatonna left the bases loaded in the seventh but scored a run. They added a tally in the eighth and scored two in the ninth to pull within the final score of 10-8. The Aces had the tying runs on base when Braves' shortstop Uriah Possin threw out Brian Simon from deep in the hole to finish off the game.

The Aces used five pitchers in the game. Matt Bothun started and was followed by Ryan Steiskal, Eric Benson, Jake Hines, and Matt Seykora. The Aces will be looking to replace longtime hurler Brandon Wolf who retired after last season. He handled the bulk of the pitching for the Aces in recent seasons.

The teams will hold a rematch July 23 at Tink Larson Field in Waseca. Larson, a long, long time baseball veteran, continues to manage the Braves, and even took warm ups at first base before Saturday's game.

The Aces are scheduled to play Friday, June 11 in Arlington against Blue Earth. The next home game for Owatonna is Wednesday, June 16 against the Austin Greyhounds.

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