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Huskies tie Wingers 2-2 at Target Field

Steele County Times - Staff Photo - Create Article
Owatonna third baseman Connor Wiese dives toward the bag in an attempt to make a play. Wiese was a split second late and the Wingers runner reached third safely. Staff photo by Johnnie Phillips
By
Johnnie Phillips, Sports Editor

Owatonna baseball tied the Red Wing Wingers 2-2 at Target Field last week in a full-length, seven-inning game cut short of a winner due time constraints.

Regardless of the final score, the Huskies were able to get a taste of the big leagues and experience what it’s like to step on the same diamond as some of their favorite players.

“It means a lot to be able to have this opportunity. We have 12 seniors on roster. They’ve been in the program a long time, so to be able to give a memorable experience like this, we’re very lucky. This just doesn’t ever happen. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said Owatonna head coach Tate Cummins.

Owatonna and Red Wing battled from the opening pitch, which saw the Wingers jump out to a 1-0 lead after the top of the first inning.

The Huskies’ bats were able to put a few runners on base in the bottom of the inning, but Red Wing held firm to keep its 1-0 lead intact.

After silencing Red Wing in the top of the second, Owatonna managed to get Tanner Smith and Owen Beyer on base and bring both athletes home to take the lead at 2-1.

Smith reached third and scored on a passed ball; meanwhile, Beyer advanced to third on the passed ball and scored soon after on a sacrifice fly hit by Gavin Saxton.

Red Wing managed to score one run in the top of the fourth thanks to some timely hitting and aggressive base running, but Owatonna held the Wingers in check to keep the game tied at 2-2.

The teams entered the seventh inning gridlocked at 2-2, and as the game progressed, time constraints on the ballpark in preparation for the Twins’ early game with the Detroit Tigers the following day began to come into effect.

When Red Wing was shut down in the top of the seventh, umpires discussed and ultimately decided to allow the Huskies one final opportunity to bat in the bottom of the seventh.

Owatonna started the inning with two quick outs before senior Mitch Seykora stepped up to the plate and unleashed a monstrous drive to left-center field that earned him a triple.

The Wingers elected to intentionally walk Taye Berg in the following at-bat and got the result they were looking for when Tanner Smith struck out to end the game.

The tie may have kept the scoresheets from showing a winner,  but in hindsight, everyone at Target Field had already won.

Owatonna’s next game will be on the road against Winona on Thursday, April 25, at 5 p.m.

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