Athletics defeat Cokato in 10-innings
The Athletics needed late inning heroics, but finished the regular season with a 4-3 extra innings win over the Cokato Kernals.
Delano would jump out to early 1-0 lead in the second inning on a fielders choice grounball by Jeff Althoff to score John Magee. The Athletics would add another run in the top of the eighth when Josh Hiltner scored on a Cokato error.
With the Region 12C playoff standings having been decided before the first pitch, the Athletics decided to give innings to a variety of arms.Starting pitcher Zach Iten would hold the Kernals in check through five innings,giving up zero runs and striking out nine. Cody Mathisen threw a pair of innings and kept the Kernels scoreless in his 2-innings of work.
With the Athletics clining to a 2-0 lead, the Kernels would rally with three runs in the bottom of the eighth to take a 3-2 lead heading to the ninth.
Pinch hitter Adam Jaunich would lead off the inning with a bunt single and would steal second base and later score on a clutch RBI single by Jeff Althoff, tying the game 3-3 and sending the game to extras.
With 1-out in the top of the tenth, Toby Hanson singled and stole second base and would score on an RBI single by Joey Althoff and giving the Athletics a 4-3 lead.
Joey Althoff would pitch a scoreless ninth and seal the win for the Athletics to close out the regular season, giving the Athletics a 15-7 North Star League record and a 19-9 overall record.
The Athletics will now have more than week off before the start of the Region 12C playoffs, which will be hosted by Delano. The Athletics recieved the #4 seed and will play the #5 seed, Loretto Larks on Friday, August 7th at 8:30 PM.