Legion Team Wins Season Opener First Win In 30+ Years By Bill Bentson The ‘Central Falcons’, as they are known, is an American Legion baseball team, sponsored by the Legion Posts from Preston(Jesse Poole, Post # 166), Harmony(Gustive Berg, Post #81) and Lanesboro(Henry M. Gutormson, Post # 40). And this past weekend won their first game of the season over Lewiston(17-4) and as many ‘local’ historians have noted, won their first game in over 30 years. That’s because there hasn’t been ‘a Legion program’ in any of the communities in that long of a time span. I even heard one Harmony ‘armchair historian’ note, “it might even be near 50 years. None the less, we’re excited to have the program back, ‘up and running’, and look forward to many exciting contests this summer, and hopefully for years to come. Organizer, and coach of the team, is Keith Larson, and able assistants, Jim Peters, Scott Rustad and Cal Larson. To ‘kick’ the new season off, the Central Falcons hosted Lewiston and Caledonia, in hopes of getting in a triple-header. Unfortunately the weatherman had other plans, and only two games were played; Lewiston vs Central and Lewiston vs Caledonia. The scheduled game between Central and Caledonia will hopefully be made up some time later this summer. In the inaugural contest, Nick Mensink(3 innings) and Sam Peters(2 innings) combined for a three-hitter, downing Post #90, 17-4. Mensink went the first three innings and allowed just one hit and two runs(one earned), while striking out four and walking three. Mensink also hit three Lewiston batters and had one wild pitch. Peters ‘time’ on the mound was ‘loaded’ with 2’s; 2 IP, 2 runs, both earned, 2 hits, 2 strikeouts, and 2 walks. He also hit one batter. Offensively, the Falcons got two hits from Kiel Larson(2/4) and Cole Schwichtenberg(2/3, double) and ‘solo shots’ from Collin Scott(1/3), Trace Tollefson(1/3, triple), Blake Bigalk(1/3), Walker Ward(1/1) and Sam Peters(1/4). The runs were scored by Gatlin Woellert, Larson(3), Andy Love(3), Nick Mensink(4), Tollefson(2), Justin Ristau, Riley Means, Jared Kelly and Schwichtenberg. ‘Knocking’(runs-batted-in) in the runs were Larson, Tollefson and Bigalk. ‘On-base percentage’ for Central was also very good. Going 4/4 was Nick Mensink(three walks and an error). Other ‘OBP’ notable performances; Collin Scott(2/3), Kiel Larson(2/4, two hits), Andy Love(3/4, walk, error, hit-by-pitch), Trace Tollefson(2/4, walk, hit), Justin Ristau(2/3, error, strikeout/passed ball), Blake Bigalk(2/3, hit, walk), Walker Ward(1/1, hit), Sam Peters(2/4, error, hit) and Cole Schwichtenberg(2/3, 2 hits). Lewiston 0-1-1-0-2 = 4-3-6, 7 LOB Central 6-2-5-4-x = 17-8-1, 6 LOB Other notes…. -Caledonia beat Lewiston, 15-1, in the second game. The game was called(lightning) while Lewiston was batting in the bottom of the fourth inning. -Ib Gatzke provided concessions at the games, on behalf of the Preston Serviceman’s Club. -Coach Keith Larson wants to thank everyone who came out to support the team, and a special thanks to the Legion Posts #40(Lanesboro), #81(Harmony) and #166(Preston) for their support and sponsorship. -Upcoming events for the Central Falcons; June 25(game at St. Charles, following the 16U game) and June 28/29(tournament in Montevideo).
Posted on: Sun, 22 Jun 2014 20:08:27 +0000