ROCHESTER — The fourth-seeded Caledonia High School baseball team is playing well at the right time and secured itself a spot in the MSHSL Section 1AA semifinals by beating the top seed on Monday.
The Warriors (17-6) won for the third time in a row and for the seventh time in eight games by scoring two runs in the top of the ninth inning and holding on for a 5-3 victory over Cannon Falls at Rochester Hudson Field.
That gives Caledonia a semifinal game against either third-seeded Pine Island or seventh-seeded St. Charles at Rochester Mayo Field on June 3. That game is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.
Center fielder Will Allen delivered the big shot with a one-out, two-run single in the ninth after his teammates loaded the bases.
Designated hitter Tanner Ginther drew a one-out walk before second baseman Tyson Ginther singled to right and left fielder/pitcher Landon O’Heron was hit by a pitch. Allen, who bats eighth in the lineup, sent the first pitch to right field to bring the Ginthers home with the go-ahead runs.
The Bombers opened the bottom of the ninth with two straight singles, but O’Heron retired he side with two lineouts and one groundout.
Designated hitter Ben Stemper went 2 for 4 for the Warriors, who made the most of six hits — all singles. O’Heron also drew two walks and recorded a pair of stolen bases.
All reached safely three times — he also walked twice — and drove in three runs. Stemper and Tanner Ginther also drove in one run apiece.
