
(KNFL/KFGO) – It was pandemonium in Cold Spring, Minnesota this evening, as the Moorhead Spuds took down STMA in the Section 8AAAA Championship. It has already been an incredibly successful year for Moorhead atheltics, and this Section title was most certainly the cherry on top. Moorhead was an underdog all season long, and it carried throughout the Section playoffs. They were the 7th seed in the Section Tournament, beating #2 Seed Sartell, #3 Seed Bemidji, and then #1 STMA in the Section Semis. STMA would escape the losers bracket, beating Sartell yesterday 4-3. Moorhead, would be the final test for them.
The two teams played in a game before the winner take all, and STMA would win 4-3. There was inclimate weather that interfered with the first game, but the two teams got right back to business. In game 2, the winner take all game, STMA would strike first in the bottom of 1.
Christopher Splettstoesser would slash an RBI double off starting pitcher Carson Heinsch that would score Taylan Siens, making it 1-0 STMA Knights. The Spuds would counter with a 2 run top of the 2nd inning, as STMA starting pitcher Gavin Becker, was called for a balk, tying the game at 1. The Spuds would take the lead in the top of the 3rd, as Carson Heinsch drove in Taye Reich on an RBI double. Carson Heinsch is the brother of Carter Heinsch, who wrapped up his freshman season of baseball at Augustana. In the same inning, Brayden Kvamme would deliver an RBI single to make it 3-1 Moorhead. In the bottom of the 3rd, Taylan Seins would knock in a run on a single. That would cut the deficit in half at 3-2.
No one would score in the 4th, but the Spuds would in the 5th, on an error by Tate Tolifson at 3rd base. Drake Kunza scored from 3rd. Moorhead would lead 4-2. STMA would answer on a SAC fly by James Fry in the bottom of the 6th. It would be 4-3 going into the 7th, and Drake Kunza was looking to slam the door on STMA. He replaced Carson Heinsch with one out in the 6th, and was on for the save. Drake Kunza would do just that, retiring the side. The Moorhead Spuds 35 year wait was over. Their baseball program, secured a Section Championship and a trip to the State Tournament for the first time since 1990.
Drake Kunza would get the 2 inning save, striking out 2. Carson Heinsch would get the win, tossing 5 innings, giving up 4 hits, 3 earned runs, 1 walk, while striking out 4. The losing pitcher was Gavin Becker of STMA, pitching 3 innings, giving up 3 hits, 3 runs total, 2 earned runs, 1 walk, while striking out 4.
The Spuds will start the Class AAAA Quarterfinals in St. Paul this coming Wednesday, June 11th. They will play at CHS Field, which is the home of the St. Paul Saints, the AAA affiliate of the Minnesota Twins.
Comments