Owatonna Legion Baseball Pulls Away From Faribault with Big Inning
After a few back-and-forth innings, Owatonna Post 77 Legion baseball pulled away from Faribault with an eight-run fifth inning for a 13-3 victory at Fuller Field on Tuesday night.
Faribault grabbed a one-run lead three times only to see Owatonna even the score twice and then put together a big fifth inning. Post 77 started the decisive inning with four straight singles. The knocks by Brady Schuster and Alec Holcomb drove in the first two of the eight runs Owatonna would plate. Numerous Faribault errors extended the inning. Post 77 batted 14 in the frame and led 10-3 afterward.
In the sixth inning, with Faribault's fourth pitcher on the mound, Dawson Leer singled and Noah Budach and Tucker Alstead were hit by pitches. With two outs, Abe Havelka lifted a high pop up on a 3-2 pitch behind second base. Several Faribault players came together but no one went for the ball. With the runners off with the pitch, all three scored scored to end the game by the 10-run rule 13-3 on a rare three-run single. The play brought to mind the recent defensive gaff in a minor league game on an infield popup with the bases empty.
Nolan Malo threw five innings for Owatonna, scattering four hits, striking out two and walking one. Havelka tossed the sixth. Post 77 left fielder Zach Mensink made a highlight reel catch as he sprinted toward the foul line in the fifth, sliding to make the grab.
Owatonna (9-6) will host the Rochester Redhawks on Thursday, July 13, at 5PM in a single game at Dartts Park. It was originally scheduled as a doubleheader. Post 77 closes out the regular season Saturday at 12PM hosting the Rochester Eagles. Pigtail playoff games begin Sunday. If Owatonna wins one of their two remaining games, they will receive a first-round bye. Post 77 hosts the district tournament.
Owatonna's VFW team plays at Rochester Century on Thursday, July 13, in a 4:30PM doubleheader. Friday they play at Faribault. Monday Post 3723 goes to Stewartville and Tuesday entertains Farmington at Dartts Park.
The Aces amateur team plays at Waseca on Friday, July 14, at 7:30PM, at Pine Island Saturday at 2PM and Sunday at Hayfield at 2PM against Dodge County. The next home game is Wednesday, July 19, against the Rochester Roadrunners at 7:30PM, a game that will be carried on KRFO AM 1390.