Flames Host State Championships At Bell Field

The Faribault Flames hosted all of the State Championship games in the three classes of the 35 and older league the past couple weekends and due to heavy rains Sunday night one champion is yet to be determined.  The Lonsdale Jokers were supposed to play the Minnesota Lumberjacks in the Class 3A Championship last night, but the rain came down in buckets just as the game was about to begin.  A tentative re-scheduling was made for this Sunday, but other days were also discussed.  As soon as we know when the game will be played we'll let you know.  In the other State Title games in Class A the Coon Rapids Diamonds downed the St. Paul Senators 10-5 with the bottom of the order producing 7 of the runs.  The Class 2A Title goes to the Chaska Diamonds in a wild 11-9 game against the Lakeville Lobos.  Chaska erupted for 9 runs in the first inning only to see Lakeville roar back with 7 of their own in the second frame.  Chasa's Bruce Doney was hit by a pitch to start the bottom of the sixth after Lakeville had tied the game in the top of the inning and scored the game winning run after a single by Mark Engel.  Engel would get an insurance run on an error.  All the teams complimented the Flames on gorgeous Bell Field and the awesome concessions run by Jerry Kes of Bashers fame.  I had the pleasure of doing the public address announcing for the Flames games and the State Championship contests.  The Flames played Veseli for the Class A Consolation Championship and fell 4-1.  Veseli stole 5 bases in the game and Faribault just couldn't get the timely hit, stranding 10 runners on base.  The Flames cranked out 11 hits and committed just one error.  Barry Fritz took the loss and Faribault got multiple hit performances from Tim Wagner with 3 hits and Rick Bauer with 2.  Scott Hanson had a double to lead off the seventh inning, but was stranded at 3rd base with the tying run at the plate for the Flames.