Austin, MN

The Winona VFW Buddies saved their best ball for the end of the season, upsetting tournament host Austin in Game 1, before falling to Owatonna and Austin to finish their season.

In Game 1 on Saturday, Winona stunned tournament host Austin with a 5-4 victory. 

Daniel Rohde got the win for Winona Buddies. He allowed three runs over 6 1/3 innings. Rohde struck out two, walked one and gave up eight hits. 

Noah Nachtigal (2-4, 2 2B. 2 RBI), Rohde (2-4, 2B), Parker Nelton (2-4 RBI), and Jacob French (3-4) lead the Buddies 14 hit attack. Every Winona starter had at least one hit.

In Game 2 on Saturday, the Buddies gave #5 seed Owatonna everything they could handle before falling 11-8. 

Rohde stayed hot at the plate for Winona. Rohde went 3-4, drove in one and scored two runs. He singled in the third, fifth, and sixth innings.

Nachtigall (2-3, RBI), Jordan Niemeyer (2-4, 2 RBI), and Tanner Mlynczak (1-2, 2 RBI) shined at the plate for Winona.

On Sunday the Buddies' season ended with a tough loss to Austin 9-5. 

Easton Gamoke did all he could to give Winona a boost, but it wasn't enough.

Gamoke reached base three times in the game for Winona and stole 2 bases. He singled in the second and fourth innings.

Winona jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Jordan Niemeyer kicked things off for the Buddies with a single. Winona added more runs when Dylan Gordon scored on an RBI single by Niemeyer.

The Buddies scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth to cut its deficit to four. A sacrifice fly by Nachtigal and a sacrifice fly by Nelton gave Winona Buddies life.

One run in the bottom of the sixth helped Winona close its deficit to 9-5. An RBI single by Nelton fueled Winona Buddies' comeback. That was as close as Winona would get as the Buddies finish their season with a record of 9-17.

Box Score Game 1 Austin: http://leaguelineup.com/gamesum_baseball.asp?sid=515205982&GameID=19689779&url=winvfw

Box Score Game 2 Owatonna: http://leaguelineup.com/gamesum_baseball.asp?sid=515205982&GameID=19689781&url=winvfw

Box Score Game 3 Austin: http://leaguelineup.com/gamesum_baseball.asp?sid=515205982&GameID=19689780&url=winvfw