Cannon Falls Wins Overall HVL Title in a Game for the Ages

The Cannon Falls Bombers and Kenyon-Wanamingo Knights gave fans their money's worth and more in Wanamingo on Monday night.

There were not many hits for both teams in the 12-inning affair won by Cannon Falls 2-1 because of stellar pitching and some incredible defensive plays by both teams.

Cannon Falls head coach Bucky Lindow told me after the game he couldn't recall being involved in an extra-inning affair with that many under-the-gun pressure cooker plays on defense.

Kenyon-Wanamingo head coach Randy Hockinson tipped his cap to Cannon Falls and congratulated them on the overall HVL title and added he was super proud of his team.

Both teams had their chances in extra innings to win. The game was tied at 1 going into extra innings and both teams scored in the second inning.

Cannon Falls got a one-out double by second baseman Liam Franken, who advanced to third on a passed ball. Pitcher Michael Monson then hit an RBI single off Knights starter Matt Houglum.

Carter Leninger led off the bottom of the second with a walk, stole second and came home on the RBI single by Houglum. Houglum went to second on the throw home but was stranded there.

Junior Knight right-hander Houglum allowed just three hits through regulation and left after nine innings with five hits allowed. He threw 93 pitches, 57 were for strikes. Houglum was 23 of 33 first-pitch strikes with five strikeouts, one walk and one hit batsman.

Senior Bomber right-hander Monson gave up two hits through seven and was pulled after picking up his fourth walk to start the eighth inning. Monson tossed 99 pitches, 64 for strikes, with 19 of 27 first-pitch strikes.

Senior right-hander Tanner Carlson came in relief of Monson and got the victory pitching the last five innings and allowing three hits while walking four more batters and striking out three.

The defensive gems turned in by both teams were a joy to watch.

Kenyon-Wanamingo's Gavin Roosen and Luke Rechtzigel were thrown out at third base.

Cannon Falls had runners at first and second with one out in the fourth inning and saw a major league double play turned by shortstop Gavin Roosen, throwing from his knees to second baseman Blake Jacobson, who quickly threw to a stretching Ethan Benda at first base.

In the 11th inning, Roosen would strike again with a leaping throw from the shortstop hole to first baseman Luke Rechtzigel. Rechtzigel proceeded to throw to third to get Tanner Carlson for the inning-ending double play.

After getting back-to-back walks with one out in the sixth inning, Cannon Falls turned a slick double play to end the sixth with shortstop Carlson throwing to Franken at second and on to Max Bowen at first base.

Kenyon-Wanamingo's best opportunity for a walk-off win came in the bottom of the ninth.

With nobody out the Knights had runners at second and third and could not score after back-to-back rundowns for outs between third and home.

Hockinson told Power 96 there was no suicide squeeze on the first rundown but there was on the second and the bunt just could not be executed.

The Knights had another opportunity in the bottom of the 11th when back-to-back walks with one out got them a hit away from the HVL title.

Dylan Craig hit a fly ball to right field caught by Carter Reber and Rechtzigel attempted to tag and go to third and was thrown out on a perfectly executed throw to the cutoff man relay to third base.

Jason Traynor was playing shortstop at the time and Elliott Boman was at third.

Kenyon-Wanamingo was also a hit away from tying the game in the 12th after a leadoff walk and single started the inning.

Lindow says Tanner Carlson is very good pitching out of jams, and man did he prove it in this game, getting a strikeout to end the game.

In the 12th inning with one out, Max Bowen and Liam Franken got back-to-back singles and Bowen scored on an RBI single by No. 9 hitter Carter Reber.

Reber, Bowen, Carlson and Monson were the Nelson Insurance Agency of Cannon Falls Bombers of the game. Carter Leninger, Matt Houglum and Gavin Roosen were the Held Bus Service of Kenyon Knights of the game.

Cannon Falls learned after the game they are the top seed in the West Subsection of Section 1 Class A and receive a first-round bye this Thursday.

The Bombers host the subsections in Cannon Falls and don't have to play until Saturday.

Kenyon-Wanamingo is in the stacked (in terms of state-ranked teams) Section 2 AA and seed either Tuesday or Wednesday.

The Knights will more than likely be the three seed and host a first-round game in Kenyon on Friday in Wanamingo.

I will have the Kenyon-Wanamingo softball playoff game Tuesday evening on Power 96 radio, 95.9 FM and www.power96radio.com or you can listen by downloading the free RadioPup app on your favorite mobile device.

The Knights are the No. 11 seed in the 15-team Section 2 AA and travel to No. 6 seed Belle Plaine for a 5PM game.

Our coverage begins at 4:45PM with the Milo Peterson Ford Keys to the Game.