HUTCHINSON — The first year of being a member of the Crow River Valley League has been an exciting one for the Delano Athletics. After battling their way through the regular season and District 7B Tournament, Delano now sits one win away from capturing a state championship after taking down Young America 6-2 in the Class C state semifinals.
After the bats came alive in a big way in their win over Hutchinson to reach the semifinals, the A’s carried that momentum into the matchup with the Cardinals. Mason Henry opened the game with a leadoff single, and Delano was off and running. Henry then stole second to move into scoring position and, after advancing to third on a fly ball, gave the A’s a 1-0 lead after scoring on an RBI single from Toby Hanson.
Delano wasn’t satisfied with just a one-run lead early. In the top of the second, it added to its lead with a little two-out magic. After Young America’s Brice Panning retired the first two batters of the inning, the A’s got three-straight two-out hits from Brady Lash, Michael Reem, and Cade Bruett to extend their lead to 3-0.
The Cardinals, one of the top-ranked teams in Class B all season long, weren’t about to go away quietly. After getting on the board in the bottom of the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Panning, Brayden Kohls belted a solo home run to bring Young America within a run.
After the Cardinals plated a pair of runs, Panning found his groove on the mound as he set down the A’s in order two innings in a row and retired nine in a row at one point. The bats would come alive again for Delano in the top of the seventh. Bruett snapped Panning’s streak of nine retired batters with a one-out single. With two outs again, Jack Paulson came through in the clutch with an RBI double down the line to extend the lead back to two. A solo home run from Drew Dorsey, followed by some aggressive baserunning, added two more in the top of the eighth to help the A’s pull away for good and secure their spot in the state title game.
Jake Nelson picked up the win on the mound for Delano with a complete-game performance. He held the Cardinals to two runs on six hits while striking out six and walking one.
At the plate, Henry had two hits out of the leadoff spot to help lead the charge. Bruett added two hits and two RBI out of the No. 9 spot, while Michael Reem also finished with a two-hit day.
For Young America, Panning was tagged with the loss. He went six and two-thirds of an inning while allowing four runs off eight hits. Leading the way for the Cardinals offensively was Kohls. He went 2-for-4 including his solo home run. Jack Waletich, Isaac Hormann, Josh Lenz, and Joe Kley each added one hit apiece.
Nisswa 7, New Ulm 5
The 2022 state champions are back in the state title game again after taking care of business in their matchup with New Ulm. Coming off a thrilling extra-inning win over Foley in the quarterfinals.
The Lightning jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first thanks to an RBI double from Nate DaChaine, only to see New Ulm respond immediately. The Brewers struck for three runs of their own in the top of the second to take a 3-1 lead.
Nisswa got back to work with the bats after being held scoreless in the second. The Lightning scored one run in the third and followed that up with two more in both the fourth and fifth innings to add to their lead.
Keaton Lingenfelter got the win on the mound for Nisswa in relief. He went four and two-thirds innings and allowed two runs off eight hits.
At the plate, DeChaine continued to deliver for Nisswa with a three-hit day. Kody Ruedisili, Jeremiah Piepkorn, Aaron Jenkins, and Chris Pederson all added two hits apiece.
For New Ulm, Lucas Suess gave his team a spark at the bottom of the order as he had a three-hit day. Sam Keckeisen added three hits of his own as well.
Nisswa and Delano will face off for the Class B title tomorrow in Hutchinson at 1 p.m.
