By JODY WYNNEMER
Staff Writer
The New Richland American Legion baseball team saw their state tournament dreams come to an end as they went 2-2 in the playoffs. The Jazz was the number four seed and had to get through some tough teams in their section.
Jazz 6, Dodge Center 3
The Jazz exploded for five of their six runs in the bottom of the second inning and with some good pitching were able to hang on for the win. Carter Tollefson, Nic Mangskau, Matt Dahle, Mitch Akemann, Jake Staloch and Lucas Meyer all garnered one hit each. Akemann started on the mound giving up three runs. Sam Lundberg came on in relief in the fourth inning and allowed no hits or runs, a single walk and fanned eight.
“This was a good team effort,” said Jazz manager Jon Meyer. “Lundberg did a great job of pitching to help us hold on to the lead.”
Stewartville 10, Jazz 0 (six innings)
The Jazz traveled to Stewartville to take on the number one seed on Wednesday, July 13 and were kept scoreless. David Lassahn couldn’t keep the opponents at bay through four innings as he allowed seven runs on 10 hits. Mangskau threw innings five and six, allowing three more runs. Leading hitters for the Jazz were Brad Claycomb (2-3) and Lundberg (2-3.) Dahle, Akemann and Meyer each contributed one hit apiece.
Jazz 3, Hayfield 0
The Jazz needed to keep winning to stay in the playoffs as they made a return trip to Stewartville on July 16. They snuck by the Hayfield Legion team as Akemann pitched a complete game, allowing only five hits, two walks and three strikeouts. Staloch and Akemann each collected two hits. Mangskau, Dahle, Tollefson and Eric Sorenson each had one hit.
Rochester Lourdes, 6, Jazz 2
The season ended on Monday as games which should have been played on Saturday were moved due to wet fields. The number three seed Lourdes hammered Lundberg for 12 hits en route to eliminating the Jazz from contention.
The Jazz countered with only three hits, doubles by Akemann and Tollefson and a single by Lundberg.
The American Legion District One Tournament will be this weekend in LaCrescent. The state competition will be held in Ely July 29-31.
