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FF Legion runs out of gas: After a 10 inning heartbreaker, Fergus falls flat
Published 3:51pm Saturday, August 4, 2012VICTORIA — The Fergus Falls Post 30 American Legion team made an early exit from the state legion playoffs Friday as they fell 5-4 to Winona in 10 innings, followed by a 17-2 trouncing by Eden Prairie.
In game one, Post 30 saw their lead slip away as Winona’s Dan Kronebrusch delivered the game winning single in the 10th for a 5-4 victory.
Fergus jumped on the board first as Pete Gaustad belted a two-run double in the third. Gaustad would later score after a wild pitch and an error.
In the bottom half of the inning, Roger Brosnahan found his way to the plate after punching a double into the gap, stealing third and scoring on a two-out error.
The Post 30 team would get the run back in the sixth as Nick Heck doubled in his brother Luke to give Fergus a three run lead.
Winona would not go down without a fight as they added two runs in the bottom of the sixth on two sacrafice flys and another sacrafice in the eighth knotted the game up at 4-4.
The momentum shifted to the Winona dugout as in the 10th inning, Bryan Rohde poked a base hit to lead-off the inning. After a sacrafice bunt to move Rohde over, Kronebrusch hit a game winning single sending Fergus into the consolation bracket.
Rohde picked up the win, pitching three innings of relief and striking out six, while Fergus’ Pete Gaustad took the loss pitching two and a third innings and allowing two hits.
Gaustad led Post 30 hitters going 2 for 4 with two doubles, two RBI and a run, while teammate Walker Heinen finished the game going 2 for 5.
In an elimination game, defending champion Eden Prairie took advantage of Fergus errors as they defeated Post 30 17-2.
Eden Prairie found their rhythm early and often as they smack around Fergus pitching, collecting 19 hits in six innings of play.
Fergus pitchers struggled from the mound issueing eight walks, while their defense committed five errors.
Eden Prairie would also strand 12 runners on the bases in the win.
Brady Hansen led Fergus hitters in the game going 2 for 3 in the loss.
The Post 30 team finishes the season with an 18-14 record, winning their fourth straight District 9 title.
