There are a lot of weird ways for games to end, but Sunday’s result in St. Mathias is right up there. With the game with the Aitkin Steam scoreless in the bottom of the 11th, the Devils Elijah Tautges reached on a 1-out error, followed by back-to-back walks to load the bases. Aitkin pitcher Nathan Ehnstrom was then called for a balk, forcing in Tautges with the winning run as the Devils won 1-0.
The Steam put together the first real scoring chance in the game in the top of the 4th when Zach Ehnstrom led off with a walk, followed by a double from Nathan Ehnstrom. But then Devils starter Bryce Flanagan got John McGuire to line back to the mound and Flanagan was able to throw to 2nd where shortstop Josh Kossan doubled off Nathan Ehnstrom. Flanagan then got a ground out to back to the mound to keep the game scoreless.
In the top of the 8th and still scoreless, Aitkin got a lead-off walk by Jake Ince, then an error put Zach Ehnstorm to 2nd, but Ince was put out trying to go to 3rd for the 1st out. A walk to Nathan Ehnstrom was followed by a fly out to right. A single by Tucker Holm give the Steam bases loaded with 2 outs but Bryce Flanagan got Hunter Hills to fly out to left fielder Kyle Welle as Aitkin left the bases loaded.
In the bottom of the 9th of the still 0-0 game, Aitkin pitcher Zach Ehnstrom got a ground out and a line out for 2 quick outs, the Kyle Welle walked to put the potential winning run on base. But Ehnstrom got Josh Kossan to fly out to center fielder Jake Ince to send the game to extra innings.
With Bryce Flanagan still out there to pitch the 10th, Aitkin got a walk to Zach Ehnstrom to open the inning. Nathan Ehnstrom then singled to right to put runners at 1st and 2nd with no outs. John McGuire then sacrificed both men up a base with a bunt for the 1st out. The Devils then replaced Flanagan with Connor Knettel on the mound. Knettel walked Tucker Holm to load the bases with 1 out. Knettel then struck out Hunter Hills and got a fly out to Kyle Welle in left to once again, keep the Steam off the scoreboard.
In the bottom of the 10th, Hunter Wicklund led off with a single to center, followed by a sacrifice bunt from Luke Zontelli. Zach Ehnstrom then struck out Connor Knettel but walked Konnor Wicklund. However, the rally died there when Ehnstorm got Maverick Badeaux to ground back to the mound, sending the game to the 11th.
Connor Knettel came out and had a quick 1-2-3 inning in the top of the 11th with a ground out to 3rd, a strikeout and then another ground out to 2nd to end the inning.
In the bottom of the 11th, Elijah Kossan grounded out, but then Elijah Tautges reached on an error. Kyle Welle then walked, moving Tautges to 2nd. Josh Kossan also walked, loading the bases with 1 out. Aitkin then brought in Nathan Ehnstrom to take over the pitching duties from Zach Ehnstrom. With the count at 1-1. Ehnstrom was called for a balk, scoring Tautges and giving the Devils the 1-0 win in 11 innings.
Aitkin 0 6 2 – 0 11 innings
St. Mathias 1 4 1 – 1
WP: Connor Knettel 2IP 0 runs 1 hit 2k 1bb
Bryce Flanagan 9IP 0 runs 5 hits 12k 8bb
LP: Zach Ehnstrom 10.1IP 1 run 4 hits 8k 10bb
Nathan Ehnstrom 0IP 0 runs 0 hits 0k 0bb
Devils:
Josh Kossan 0-5 bb
Hunter Wicklund 1-5
Luke Zontelli 0-3 sac, bb
Bryce Flanagan 1-4
– Kyper Derosier 0-0
– Connor Knettel 0-1
Konnor Wicklund 1-2 3bb
Marcus Lennartson 0-2 bb
– Maverick Badeaux 0-2
Braxton Tautges 0-2
– Elijah Kossan 0-3
Elijah Tautges 0-4 run
Kyle Welle 1-1 4bb, sb
Steam:
John Pelarski 2-6
Jake Ince 0-4 2bb
Zach Ehnstrom 0-2 3bb
Nathan Ehnstrom 2-4 2B, bb
John McGuire 0-4 sac
Tucker Holm 1-4 bb
Hunter Hills 0-4 bb
Jake McGuire 0-4 bb
Logan Olson 1-5