R-P Eliminated In Walkoff
The Rushford-Peterson Trojans played another elimination game on Monday. Another nail biter ended in a Randolph walk-off, eliminating the Trojans.
The game was scoreless going into the bottom of the third. Randolph's Grant Otte led off with a base hit, advanced un a walk, then was on third after a fielder's choice groundout. Alex Ratzlaff hit a deep fly ball for the sac fly to make it 1-0 Randolph after 3 innings.
In the top of the 4th, Dawson Dahl led off with a base hit and was sacrificed to second. Tim Highum then came through with a base hit between shortstop and the second base bag for the 1-1 tie. Randolph's Grant Otte left the score tied, as he struck out the next R-P batter.
In the bottom half of the 4th, a strikeout, a pickoff and a rundown, and a groundout retired the Rockets. Both squads went 1-2-3 in the 5th. The next chances came in the 6th.
In the top of the 6th, Rushford-Peterson had two on with one out. The Randolph infielders then turned a slick 6-4-3 double play to get out of it. For Randolph, Matt Olson reached on an error, then reached third with a slow groundout and a fly ball to right. Shawn Marg stranded him; the southpaw got the "K" to end the threat.
In the top of the 7th, Tim Highum led off with a walk. and was advnaced a couple bases before Halen Schwendinger stepped in. The Trojans second baseman delivered the two-out hit, and the Trojans were ahead 2-1! After a hit by pitch, the bases were loaded, but they were left that way, to keep the game a one-run game.
Shawn Marg struck out the first batter he faced in the bottom of the 7th. Dane Ehleringer came up for the first time in the game and walked. His runner, left fielder Joey Erickson, reached second on a passed ball. Then Brandon Ratzlaff hit a ground ball to the left side. The Trojans tried to get the lead out at third, but Erickson slid feet first to beat the tag. With runners on the corners, Grant Otte hit a ground ball. Watching Erickson take his steps off third, the throw was off line and into right field to score Erickson anyway for the 2-2 tie. A batter later,with runners on second and third and one out, Andrew Wenstrom hit a long fly ball to center. Dawson Dahl retreated on it, caught it, but his throw in was not in time to nab the tagging Brandon Ratzlaff. The Randolph Rockets defeated the Trojans by a final of 3-2.
KFIL Player of the Game for Randolph was Andrew Wenstrom, with the walk-off sacrifice fly.
KFIL Player of the Game for Rushford-Peterson: Tim Highum, with a 1/1 day with 2 walks, an RBI, and a run scored.