Owatonna Walks Off with Playoff Victory

The summer started with no guarantee of baseball. The abbreviated season started with no promise of playoffs. We got both and the Owatonna U-18 team pulled off a thrilling 5-4 playoff victory over Mankato West in ideal conditions Monday night at Fuller Field at Dartt's Park.

Payton Beyer singled and stole second in the last of the seventh inning. Matt Seykora hit a grounder to short. The throw across the diamond was low and the first baseman couldn't scoop the ball. Beyer waltzed home for the come-from-behind win.

Owatonna will play Mayo in Rochester Wednesday, August 5 at 6 pm. It's the third meeting in less than three weeks between the teams. Mayo has won the first two and is the second seed in the tourney. Owatonna is seeded third.

On Monday, Mankato grabbed a 3-0 lead through three. Owatonna got one back in the fifth as Jack Helget scored. In the sixth, the Owatonna plated three as Seykora, Connor Budach, and Jacob Meiners all crossed the dish for a 4-3 lead.

West pulled even in the seventh on an unearned run before Owatonna ended it with their rally in the bottom of the inning. Seykora pitched the first six innings and Brayden Truelson made his return to the mound from injury to get the win.

@OTownBaseball said, "Matt Seykora with 6 solid innings and was able to cool down after the 3rd. Brayden Truelson back on the field was AWESOME! Good to have you back."

In other Owatonna baseball notes, the U-17 playoffs continue for the Huskies Tuesday in Eagle Lake at 6 pm where they will play top seed Mankato West. Owatonna won their post season opener Sunday night 12-4 over Red Wing. Caleb Veriede got the pitching win and Dylan Maas went 3-for-4 at the plate with a walk.

The Owatonna Aces had this past weekend off, but will jump into Region 5C playoff action Saturday afternoon August 8 in Cannon Falls. Check OwatonnaLive.com for information on coverage of that game.