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Aug. 2—NEW ULM — The Rochester Redhawks didn't return from the Division I American Legion baseball state tournament with the ultimate prize, the one they battled to earn over a four-day stretch that included blowouts, nail-biters and unpredictable weather.
But the Redhawks did return home Sunday afternoon with an impressive third-place finish — the best finish ever by a Redhawks team at state — in the state tournament and a prize that might be the next-best thing to a state championship.
The Redhawks received the Red Haddox trophy for placing third, an award named after the legendary coach of the Bloomington Gold American Legion program and long-time Vice-Director of Legion baseball in the state.
Rochester did it without throwing a pitch or swinging a bat on Sunday afternoon, as St. Michael forfeited the third-place game. The victory and third-place finish was secondary to the Redhawks, who hoped to play one last game to end their season.
"It was very disappointing to have our season end on a forfeit," Redhawks coach Tom Senne said. "It took away the last chance for our players and parents to be a part of a game. In the end, it is bigger than a baseball game and it hit hard in our dugout after we got word about the forfeit."
Still, there is a lot for the Redhawks to look back on and be proud of this season. They finish the summer with a 25-10 overall record, and earned their way to state by persevering through an 11-inning victory against Winona in a win-or-go-home game in the First District tournament.
And, while the Redhawks went 4-2 at the state tournament, their only two losses here came against the teams that met in Sunday's state title game. State champion Excelsior Blue topped the Redhawks 8-5 in pool play on Thursday, then Wayzata defeated Rochester 8-2 Sunday morning in a state semifinal game.
The Redhawks finished the tournament having outscored their opponents by a total of 36-17.
Against Wayzata in Sunday morning's semifinal game, the Redhawks jumped to a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, and held that lead into the third, when Wayzata scored twice to tie the score.
Wayzata then took the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth, scoring four runs on a two-out, two-strike grand slam, to take a 6-2 lead. It tacked on two more runs in the fifth to make it 8-2.
The Redhawks had five hits in the game, three of them by hot-hitting Gavin Werneburg, who went 3-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Lincoln Majerus had a hit and a run scored, and Carter Funk had a hit and an RBI.
"We had a great season. It is the best the Redhawks have ever finished in a Legion season, and a team I will never forget," Senne said. "I am happy to have been a part of it.
"We played a good game, it just wasn't enough to win. We got after the Wayzata pitcher early but let him settle in. We had opportunities throughout the game, but Wayzata's defense made some really good plays.
"... We had a special week. Our guys proved why they were among the top teams in the state. It hurts knowing that this is the last time I will coach a lot of these guys. They were a very enjoyable team to coach and played the game hard. Our program is better because of these guys."
SEMIFINALS
Wayzata 8, Redhawks 2
Redhawks#200#000#0#—#2#5#0
Wayzata#002#402#x#—#8#8#0
Redhawks: Brennan Bakken 0-for-3; Jack Ryan 0-for-1; Carter Funk 1-for-2, 1 RBI; Kyle Leopold 0-for-3; Lincoln Majerus 1-for-3, 1 R; John Mueller 0-for-2, 1 RBI; Gavin Werneburg 3-for-3, 1 2B, 1 R; Colton Brandt 0-for-4; George Restovich 0-for-3. Pitchers: Carter Funk 2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 0 K; John Mueller (L) 4 IP, 4 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 5 BB, 2 K.
Wayzata: no statistics available.
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But the Redhawks did return home Sunday afternoon with an impressive third-place finish — the best finish ever by a Redhawks team at state — in the state tournament and a prize that might be the next-best thing to a state championship.
The Redhawks received the Red Haddox trophy for placing third, an award named after the legendary coach of the Bloomington Gold American Legion program and long-time Vice-Director of Legion baseball in the state.
Rochester did it without throwing a pitch or swinging a bat on Sunday afternoon, as St. Michael forfeited the third-place game. The victory and third-place finish was secondary to the Redhawks, who hoped to play one last game to end their season.
"It was very disappointing to have our season end on a forfeit," Redhawks coach Tom Senne said. "It took away the last chance for our players and parents to be a part of a game. In the end, it is bigger than a baseball game and it hit hard in our dugout after we got word about the forfeit."
Still, there is a lot for the Redhawks to look back on and be proud of this season. They finish the summer with a 25-10 overall record, and earned their way to state by persevering through an 11-inning victory against Winona in a win-or-go-home game in the First District tournament.
And, while the Redhawks went 4-2 at the state tournament, their only two losses here came against the teams that met in Sunday's state title game. State champion Excelsior Blue topped the Redhawks 8-5 in pool play on Thursday, then Wayzata defeated Rochester 8-2 Sunday morning in a state semifinal game.
The Redhawks finished the tournament having outscored their opponents by a total of 36-17.
Against Wayzata in Sunday morning's semifinal game, the Redhawks jumped to a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, and held that lead into the third, when Wayzata scored twice to tie the score.
Wayzata then took the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth, scoring four runs on a two-out, two-strike grand slam, to take a 6-2 lead. It tacked on two more runs in the fifth to make it 8-2.
The Redhawks had five hits in the game, three of them by hot-hitting Gavin Werneburg, who went 3-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Lincoln Majerus had a hit and a run scored, and Carter Funk had a hit and an RBI.
"We had a great season. It is the best the Redhawks have ever finished in a Legion season, and a team I will never forget," Senne said. "I am happy to have been a part of it.
"We played a good game, it just wasn't enough to win. We got after the Wayzata pitcher early but let him settle in. We had opportunities throughout the game, but Wayzata's defense made some really good plays.
"... We had a special week. Our guys proved why they were among the top teams in the state. It hurts knowing that this is the last time I will coach a lot of these guys. They were a very enjoyable team to coach and played the game hard. Our program is better because of these guys."
SEMIFINALS
Wayzata 8, Redhawks 2
Redhawks#200#000#0#—#2#5#0
Wayzata#002#402#x#—#8#8#0
Redhawks: Brennan Bakken 0-for-3; Jack Ryan 0-for-1; Carter Funk 1-for-2, 1 RBI; Kyle Leopold 0-for-3; Lincoln Majerus 1-for-3, 1 R; John Mueller 0-for-2, 1 RBI; Gavin Werneburg 3-for-3, 1 2B, 1 R; Colton Brandt 0-for-4; George Restovich 0-for-3. Pitchers: Carter Funk 2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 0 K; John Mueller (L) 4 IP, 4 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 5 BB, 2 K.
Wayzata: no statistics available.
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