River Falls Legion baseball reaches the end of the line

• Baseball season ends

Baseball season ends

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The end of the season for the River Falls American Legion Post 121 baseball team wrapped up Saturday, July 21. The first game was against Stillwater 19U on Tuesday, July 17. Stillwater beat River Falls Post 121 by a score of 9-5. Starting for River Falls was Dylan Kusilek.

Stillwater scored one unearned run in the second. Three unearned runs in the third, two in the fourth, one in the fifth and two in the sixth to win 9-5.

Jonah VanderVorst pitched one inning allowing two earned runs. Offensively River Falls had no batters getting multiple hits and Stillwater recorded 10 strikeouts.

River Falls did threaten in the bottom of the seventh by scoring two runs and having the tying run to the plate.

River Falls’ batters walked seven times in the game.

At the Regional Tournament on Thursday, July 19, in game one, River Falls Post 121 beat Hudson 4-1.

Kyle Duex pitched a complete game one hitter. Offensively River Falls scored two runs in the second on a two-out RBI double by right fielder Sam Lenzen. He struck again in the fourth inning, knocking in two more RBI’s on a sharply hit single to left field.

Lenzen finished the game by driving in all the runs for River Falls.

The second game of the Regional Tournament on Friday, July 20, saw Eau Claire Pizza Hut beat River Falls Post 121 10-6.

Eau Claire scored one in the second, three in the third, three in the fifth, one in the sixth, and two in the seventh. Starting pitcher for River Falls was Levi Slimak.

Offensively Justin Kelm went 1-2 with a RBI triple. Also Max Anderson recorded his first triple of the year.

Post 121 had just six hits in the game but drew four walks.

In the elimination game vs. Hudson on Saturday, July 21, River Falls beat Hudson 9-5.

River Falls Post 121 jumped out to an early lead 4-0 in the first inning and scored at least one run in every inning after to win 9-5. Jon Krueger started for River Falls and pitched five innings. Sam Barr came in relief and threw the final two innings to secure the win.

Offensively for River Falls, Brady Stocker reached base in all four plate appearances and scored two runs. Michael Wesner went 2-2 with a triple.

River Falls Post 121 legion season ended on a 7-6 loss to Eau Claire Pizza Hut later in the day on Saturday, July 21.

Down 7-4 in the top of the seventh inning, Post 121 made a late charge, cutting the lead to one before stranding the tying run at third with one out.

Pitching for River Falls were Jake Halling, Brady Stocker and Sam Barr.

River Falls scored one run in the second, three in the fourth and two in the seventh, but came up short losing 7-6.

Tyler Eliason and Conner Christensen both had multi-hit games.

Marcus Hallberg, Legion team coach, reacted to the end of the 2012 season.

“Although we fell short of reaching the state tournament, this Legion summer was a success on many levels,” he said. “Our team stuck together and began to learn how to play the game of baseball. I believe both from a team and individual standpoint, we all were much better at the end of the season then when we started.”

Added Hallberg: “Special thank you to American Legion Post 121, parents, and players for their contributions this summer.”

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