Edina comes back to top New Ulm Legion Gold
COLD SPRING — Despite scoring a pair of runs in the first inning for an early lead, New Ulm Legion Gold couldn’t keep its offense going all game as Edina came back to grab a 5-3 win in both squad’s third game of the 2019 DI Minnesota State American Legion Baseball Tournament.
The loss drops Gold to the loser’s bracket, where they will meet Buffalo at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Cold Spring. Edina now meets Excelsior in a semifinals game at 6 p.m. Saturday evening in Cold Spring.
Gold struck right away for a pair of runs and a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, getting RBI singles from Braden Zimmerman and Chris Knowles to put early pressure on 6-foot-4 Edina starter Drew Bishop.
Edina took a pair of back-to-back walks off of Gold starter Jace Marotz before Gold turned a much-needed double play to get runners out at second and first. A two-out double to right off the bat of Jonathan Bunce scored a run for Edina right after, however, cutting Gold’s lead to 2-1 after one inning.
Gold’s lead didn’t last much longer after a four-run bottom of the second saw Edina surge ahead to a 5-2 lead. After a bases-loaded walk by Matthew Enck tied things at 2-2, Teddy Giefer came in from the bullpen in relief of Marotz. Lucas Fleming then drove in three on a double to left to put Edina ahead by three.
Gold started the fifth inning off nicely with a pair of baserunners after Josh Seidl walked and Hunter Ranweiler singled to advance Seidl to second. Zimmerman then reached on a fielder’s choice after a groundball to Bishop was thrown to third for the force and first out.
Knowles then hit a sharp single to second to bring in Ranweiler and shave Edina’s lead to 5-3. Back-to-back outs ended Gold’s fifth-inning threat with a solo run, however.
After a 1-2-3 bottom of the sixth, Gold had one last chance to tie it or take the lead in the top of the seventh. Although a single to center field by Seidl started the inning, three consecutive outs followed for Gold to end the game.
Bishop got the complete-game win, giving up three earned runs on eight hits and three walks. He stuck out five.
Marotz took the loss for Gold in 1 2/3 innings of work, being charged with all five runs on four hits and three walks. Giefer gave up four hits and a walk while striking out one in 4 1/3 innings of relief.
Ranweiler was 2 for 4 with a run scored and a double, while Knowles was 2 for 4 with a pair of RBIs. Teagan Kamm also doubled for Gold.