ELROSA SAINTS

(The Saints celebrate!, photo by WC Trib)

CELEBRATION VIDEO

DASSEL--The Elrosa Saints opened up the 2023 State tourney with a 4-3 walk off win over Hadley Saturday aftenoon in Dassel! With the score tied at 3, Andrew Weller started the 9th inning by getting hit by a pitch. After moving to second on a sacrifice bunt, Kevin Kuefler reached on a walk. With two outs and two strikes Jackson Peter drilled a line drive over the 3rd basemens head to score Weller and the celebration was on. It was Peter's second big hit of the day as young shortstop smoked a triple to the right center gap in the first inning. In a back and forth game which saw the lead change hands a few times, Elrosa stuck to their guns and small balled their way back into the game. Elrosa rallied in the 8th inning with Blaine Fischer leading off with a bunt single followed by a perfectly placed sacrifice bunt from Peter. Derek Wiener then worked the count and drilled a fastball into the left center gap to score Fischer and tie the game at 3. Greenwald draftee Brett Engelmeyer battled for 5 innings on the bump before giving way to Cold Spring Rockie draftee Cole Fuchs. Fuchs threw 3 scoreless innings followed by a perfect 9th inning from Payton VanBeck. Elrosa committed three errors in the game but pitched their way through it. Will VanBeck hit a double while Ashton Dingmann and Gavin Kampsen each added singles for Elrosa who left 11 runners on base. Elrosa will now play Minneota in the Round of 32 next Saturday at 4:30 p.m. in Litchfield. 

(Jackson delivers the walk-off winner!)