Posted: 8/2/06
Legion team misses a date with state by ëthat muchí
Glen Strandberg
Sports Editor
The Legion baseball team played well during its time in the Third District playoffs, but they came up just short of great as their season ended on Sunday, July 30, with a 14-4 loss to Burnsville.
The team opened the tournament with a game against Oakdale on Wednesday afternoon. Post 225 could have made their lives a lot easier by knocking in a few more base runners, but a win is a win is a win.
ìThat was a battle,î head coach Kale Henry said afterward.
Relying on great pitching and stellar defense is nothing new for Forest Lake, and thatís exactly what they got against Oakdale. David Gauerke improved to 7-0 on the season after giving up only six hits and one run during seven innings of work.
ìDavid Gauerke has been outstanding. Heís grabbed the ball every time weíve asked him to and gone out there and pitched great,î Henry said.
The other piece to the winning puzzle was supplied by Drew Cremisino, who nailed a solo home run to left field in the top of the sixth. After Oakdale threatened in the eighth inning by scoring one run and loading the bases, the hit proved to be crucial.
ìI knew I hit it well,î Cremisino said. ìI didnít know if I got it out so I was still sprinting for a double.î
The win was a nice way to open the double-elimination tournament, and put Forest Lake into a Thursday game against St. Paul Park.
This one would be completely different than Wednesday as the final score was 13-12, with Forest Lake on the short end of the offensive explosions.
Post 225 was now in the loserís bracket, and had to navigate through more games as well as the high temperatures. Factoring in the intense heat and the long drives south to Apple Valley and Burnsville, it would be understandable if fatigue started to work its way into the final outcomes.
But the team was in fine form with an 18-8 victory against Faribault, where the offense stayed hot and Nate Crudo stepped in and picked up the win.
The heat and the hits kept coming on Saturday as Forest Lake beat New Prague and Mahtomedi by scoring 12 runs in both games. The Mahtomedi victory took ten innings, but it sent Henryís squad into the third place game and a chance to go to the state tournament.
The final match-up against Burnsville was on Sunday, and Post 225 couldnít overcome the No. 1 seedís 14 runs.
ìThey have a very good team,î Henry said.
Forest Lake finished the summer with a 19-10 record and was just one game short of heading to state.
ìIt was an excellent season and the kids played hard,î Henry said.
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