Ramblers Come Back Down 5 Runs to Advance to State Semifinals

(KWMN)-

Winona Cotter (25-3) traveled to St. Cloud for their first state appearance since 2008. In their quarterfinal matchup, the five-seeded Ramblers took on the fourth seed Cannon Falls (19-7).  If Cotter won, they would go on to the semifinal round for Class AA for the first time since that 2008 season.

It was a rough start for the Ramblers in the first three innings, as no runners advanced on base through three. This included three strikeouts from Bomber pitcher Tyler Meyers to retire the first and third inning. Cannon Falls also found heat on offense early. With three runs in the first with two Bomber baserunners advancing on failed strikeouts. They pushed that lead up to five after runs from Micah Nelson and Jack Shepersky gifted Cannons a 5-0 lead through two.

After three consecutive 1-2-3 innings for the Winona Cotter, shortstop Will Peterson whacked a double to right field to ignite the firepower that was to come. He reached home for the first run of the game off a KJ Kreidermacher double to left. While the Ramblers still trailed by four, the offense set the table for an explosion in the next inning.

In fifth inning, Winona Cotter scored five runs to take their first lead of the game. Vince Frisch assisted the first two runners with a grounder past second. Sullivan and Peterson continued the streak of five consecutive hits for the ramblers, earning runs from Frisch and Sullivan to add the next two runs for the lead, but the best was yet to come.

The sixth inning proved to be the backbreaker for Cannon Falls. The Ramblers scored nine more runs to take a 14-5 advantage. Donny Baures and Devin Korder recorded two-RBI daggers towards left field in this onslaught. Cotter recorded six of their sixteen hits in this inning alone. Dane Guzzo earned an additional run in the seventh inning to give the Ramblers a 15-5 victory over the Bombers to advance in the state tournament.

The Ramblers now face the top-seed in Class AA, the St. Cloud Cathedral Crusaders (23-2), in their first semifinals since 2008. They will back at Dick Putz Field at 1:30 pm with a trip to Target Field and State Championship on the line.