BEMIDJI, Minn. — Drew Thompson’s arm saved the Winona VFW Buddies’ state tournament run on Thursday.

With two outs in the top of the seventh inning, Winona led Eagan 2-1.

Winona pitcher Bryan Rohde overthrew first base in an attempt to throw out Eagan’s Matt Fielder, who tried to advance to third when the ball went into right field. Thompson’s throw was spot-on as Owen Burnikel made the tag for the final out and the win that put Winona in the quarterfinals at noon today against host Bemidji, which is also the defending state champion.

“It was an absolute perfect on-the-line throw,” Winona coach Matt O’Brien said. “We were 90 feet from a tie game if that wasn’t an out.”

Both pitchers went the distance as Rohde struck out eight and walked two.

“Bryan had another gutsy performance,” O’Brien said. “He went out there and attacked hitters right away. Our offense manufactured runs to help him out.”

Skylar Marks went 3-for-3 with a double and scored both runs for the Buddies. In the bottom of the first, he scored when John DeMarais grounded out. In the third, Marks scored on DeMarais’ flyout to left field.

Earlier in the day, the Buddies beat Ranview 6-3 in their first tournament game. Hunter Kruse pitched 51/3 innings, striking out three and walking four. Rohde went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI.


Read more: http://www.winonadailynews.com/sports/baseball/article_ec734742-c49c-11e0-aa72-001cc4c002e0.html#ixzz1UxIcjiDL

Box Score vs Eagan