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St. Edmond knocks off Cadets

St. Edmond’s baseball team ended the regular season with some much-needed momentum, beating Iowa Falls-Alden, 6-1, on Senior Night at Rogers Park last night.

The Gaels, who finish the regular season 7-12, scored five times in the bottom of the sixth to break a 1-1 tie and snap a three-game losing streak.

“That was a great way to finish,” said head coach Mike Szalat. “I am an emotional guy. I got a little choked up out there, but it’s a nice to send the seniors out this way. Last year, we didn’t get to do that. And every senior did something positive.”

The Gaels open district tournament play Saturday at Algona, playing Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire at 5 p.m. at Bishop Garrigan. Garrigan and West Bend-Mallard play at 7 p.m.

“We did things right tonight,” said Szalat. “I like this team when we do that. You do the little things right and the baseball Gods will reward you.”

The Gaels broke a 1-1 tie in the sixth with a perfect sac bunt by Connor Bocken to score Grant Heldorfer from third. Noah Carlson followed with an RBI groundout and Nick Bennett stroked a 2-run double.

Elijah Litwiller finished the scoring with an RBI single.

St. Edmond had three hits coming into the sixth, but strung together five hits in the frame and sent 10 batters to the plate.

“In that sixth, four of our five hits were on the first pitch. We really need to do that every time out,” said Szalat. “Everyone worked to get a hit and we ran the bases aggressively. I can’t complain about that.”

Senior Gage Johnson started for the Gaels and worked into the fourth inning before giving way to Peyton Scott, who finished to get the win. They allowed just six hits combined.

Before last night, Johnson had faced just one batter. He retired the first seven batters he faced and finished with six strikeouts.

“Gage will give us another option in the post-season that I didn’t’ expect,” Szalat said. “I would feel comfortable bringing him in if we needed him. “

Scott allowed just four hits in four full innings of work. He fanned seven batters.

The Gaels plated their other run in the bottom of the first. Bocken walked and took second on an error that allowed Carlson to reach. Cael Kolacia singled to load the bases and Litwiller drew a walk to force in a run.

The Cadets (3-15) scored their only run in the fourth after chasing Johnson. Dylan Madden singled off Scott to score Luke Kloetzer. But Scott retired the next three batters to end the threat.

The Cadets loaded the bases in the fifth but Scott got a fly out to left to end the frame.

A win in Saturday’s district opener would advance the Gaels to the district semifinal next Tuesday at Peterson against either Sioux Central or Storm Lake St. Mary’s.

ST. EDMOND 6,

IOWA FALLS-ALDEN 1

Iowa Falls-Alden 000 100 0 – 1 6 3 St. Edmond 100 005 x – 6 8 0

Landon Lettow and Sam Off. Gage Johnson, Peyton Scott (4) and Jack McEvoy. WP–Lettow. HBP–SE: McEvoy 2. 2B–SE: Connor Bocken, Nick Bennett. SAC–Bocken, Bennett. SB–IFA: Henry Kruz, SE: Cael Kolacia. CS–IFA: Kruz.

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