Farmington clinches share of SSC title
A May 9 South Suburban Conference baseball game between Rosemount and Burnsville was action-packed, with Burnsville coming from behind to win 9-4.
The game at Alimagnet Park was tied 4-4 until senior Adam Krueger delivered a sharp single up the third-base line, scoring two runs and giving the Blaze their first lead.
The Blaze were threatening early with the bases loaded and only one out, but Irish senior Nolan Ronay showed composure on the mound and got out of danger, keeping the score at 0-0.
The Irish rode that momentum to a four-run third inning as they strung together some singles against Blaze senior starter Jacob Neutz.
Burnsville began to chip away at the Irish lead in the bottom of the third as Neutz doubled to deep center field. A relay by the Irish looked to have Burnsville senior John Santelman out at home, however, Santelman went flying over the tag, getting the Blaze on the board.
The Blaze were not done there as they tied the game in the fourth with some small ball. A bunt single by senior first baseman Luke McHugh led to Burnsville’s third run. With two on and two outs Neutz once again helped himself on the mound with a single to tie the game 4-4.
Burnsville’s bats stayed hot in the fifth as Krueger’s go-ahead single spelled the end of a solid outing for Ronay. The Rosemount left-hander struck out five in 4 1/3 innings pitched.
The Blaze added insurance off Irish senior Mathias Strunk as senior Luke Dam took the second pitch he saw up the middle for a two-RBI single, giving the Blaze an 8-4 advantage.
Santelman took over as Burnsville’s pitcher, striking out three in the sixth inning.
After another run was added by the Blaze in the bottom half of the sixth, the Irish threatened in their final at-bat. Santelman retired the first two batters but then a single, walk and hit by pitch saw the Irish load the bases with two outs. Santelman got the final out on a ground ball.
SSC baseball notes
• Burnsville (10-8 overall, 9-8 conference) remained in fourth place in the South Suburban after defeating Apple Valley 4-3 on Monday. The Blaze scored twice in the bottom of the seventh. Santelman again was a key player as his triple scored Luke Dam with the winning run.
McHugh, who was 3-for-3, led off the bottom of the seventh with a double. Krueger’s sacrifice bunt moved pinch-runner Jack Skoglund to third. Dam then reached base on an error, with Skoglund scoring the tying run.
In the top of the seventh, Apple Valley (4-13, 3-12) had runners on first and third with one out following a walk and error. Max Chamberlain scored on a sacrifice fly by McDonald Noland to put Apple Valley ahead 3-2.
Burnsville defeated Lakeville South 1-0 on Wednesday and closes its regular season at Eastview at 4:30 p.m. Thursday.
Burnsville is one of four SSC teams with winning records but can’t finish higher than fourth in the league. Farmington, Prior Lake and Shakopee were battling for the conference championship going into the final week of the regular season.
• Farmington lost twice after opening the season with a 12-game winning streak, but by Wednesday the Tigers clinched a share of the South Suburban Conference championship by defeating Eagan 4-0. The Tigers play Rosemount at home on Thursday with a chance to win the outright title.
The Tigers, ranked second in Class 4A, are 15-2 in the league and 16-2 overall. After they lost conference games to Shakopee and Prior Lake, that left left top-ranked Wayzata as the only undefeated team in Class 4A.
Farmington defeated Lakeville North 11-4 and Rochester Mayo 3-2 last week in games against potential Section 1 playoff opponents. Marshall Gordan was 3-for-3 with five RBIs in the victory over North, and Brandon Lund pitched a complete game.
Dalton Kesti singled in the sixth inning to score Kelin Rasmussen with the go-ahead run in the victory over Rochester Mayo.
Ethan Bombardier allowed two hits in 6 2/3 innings in Wednesday's victory against Eagan.
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