Red Lake County Post 22 and Post 623 took a 1-0 lead, but Wadena Post 171 scored nine unanswered runs to pull away for a 9-1 victory in the first round of the Northwest Sub-state tournament at Red Lake Falls.
FIRST INNING-
Red Lake County’s Will Gieseke led off the game with a walk, but the next three batters were retired with a flyout to deep left field, a strikeout, and a pop-out.
The first two Wadena batters were retired by a strikeout and a pop out before Connor Davis reached on an infield single. The next batter flew out to left field to end the inning.
SECOND INNING-
Red Lake County’s Colin Taggart was hit by a pitch with one out. The next batter popped out before a pitch hit Blake Breiland, and Red Lake County had runners at first and second base with two outs. The next batter struck out, and the Red Lake County threat was over.
The first two Wadena batters were retired with a ground out to the pitch and a strikeout. Wadena’s Connor Dutke singled to left field and advanced to second base on a passed ball before he was picked off for the third out of the inning.
THIRD INNING-
Red Lake County’s Ben Gullingsrud walked with one out before Brock Seeger blasted a line drive to the right-center field gap to score a run, and Red Lake County led 1-0. The next two batters were retired.
The first two Wadena batters were retired before Kobe Snyder walked. Isaac Hamann reached on an error that allowed a run to score. Hamann advanced to second base on an error by the right fielder. Hamann stole third base and scored on a throwing error to third base, and Wadena led 2-1.
FOURTH INNING-
Red Lake County’s Taggart led off with a single, but the next batter hit into a double play. The next batter struck out for the third out of the inning.
Wadena was retired in 1-2-3 fashion with a pop-out, strikeout, and a ground out.
FIFTH INNING-
A pitch hit Red Lake County’s Riley Broden to start the inning. Gieseke laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runner to second base. After another out, Seeger singled to left field, but the next batter struck out.
Wadena’s Brandon Wheeler led off the bottom of the inning with a single and moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt. Snyder singled and Hamann doubled to score three runs for a 5-1 lead. Tyson Barthel hit a bloop single to score a run for a 6-1 lead. After a walk to Carson Davis, Red Lake County made a pitching change. Will Gieseke came in to finish the inning as he got the first batter to fly out to center field. He walked the next batter before striking out the next batter for the third out of the inning. Wadena took a 6-1 lead into the sixth inning.
SIXTH INNING-
Red Lake County’s Taggart reached on a walk, and the ball went all the way to the backstop on the fourth ball. Taggart sprinted to first and kept going, and slid into second base for a two-base walk with one out. The next two batters were retired.
Wadena added some insurance runs in the bottom of the inning as Cooper Ness led off with a single and advanced to third base on two wild pitchers. The next batter flew out to left field before Hamann walked. The next batter, Connor Davis crushed a line drive over the right field fence for a three-run home run for a 9-1 lead.
SEVENTH INNING-
Red Lake County’s Broden singled to start the inning and made it to second base on an error as Gieseke reached on a fielder’s choice. The next two batters were retired before a pitch hit Blake Audette to load the bases. The next batter struck out, and Wadena won the game 9-1.
Red Lake County ends the season with an 11-6 record. Wadena improves to 18-1 on the year and will play Fosston in the semi-finals at 1:30 p.m. on Friday.
CLICK BELOW to listen to Coach Seth Schmitz’s post-game comments.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
| Red Lake County | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Wadena | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 3 | – | 9 | 9 | 1 |
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO |
| Ben Gullingsrud – RLC | 4.1 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Will Gieseke – RLC | 1.2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Connor Davis – Wadena | 6.0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Simon Krelow – Wadena | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Red Lake County leaders –
Brock Seeger – 2 for 4, rbi, double
Colin Taggart – 1 for 1, hit by a pitch, walk
Riley Broden – 1 for 2, hit by pitch
Wadena leaders –
Connor Davis – 4 for 4, 6 rbi, home run, double, 2 runs
Kobe Snyder, Tyson Barthel, Brandon Wheeler, and Cooper Ness had one hit apiece.
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