Chanhassen Wins Two Games on Final Day Again for Class B Title

For the second consecutive year the Chanhassen Red Birds came from the elimination bracket to win two games and capture the Class B Minnesota State Amateur Baseball title.  Chanhassen swept Dundas by scores of 8-1 and 9-2.

In the first game at Maple Lake Irish Stadium Miles Nablo of Eden Prairie was on the hill for Chanhassen.  He got the team to the next contest with a great performance allowing 1 run, scattering 7 hits, with no walks, 5 strikeouts.

The Red Birds scored a run in the first inning, third inning, fifth and sixth innings before erupting for 4 runs in the 7th.  The Dukes lone run came in the bottom of the 7th.

Chanhassen had 15 hits in the game off three Dundas pitchers.  Mick Dudero allowed 6 hits, 2 runs, 1 earned while throwing the first 4 innings and took the loss.  Derek Albers went 2 1/3 innings with 6 hits allowed, 5 runs, 4 earned.  Nic Zabel threw the final 2 2/3 innings, 3 hits allowed, 1 unearned run.  Dukes pitchers combined had 2 strikeouts and no walks.

Nick Smith of Chanhassen had 3 hits, 3 RBI to lead the Red Birds attack.  Riley Johnson of Champlin Park had 3 hits, a double and RBI, Shan Riesgraf of Chaska collected a pair of hits, a double and RBI, Justin Anderson of Minnetonka had a pair of hits including a triple and RBI.

Mike Ludwig of Northfield had 2 hits for Dundas, Carson Jones of Burnsville hit a double, Wilson Battle of Northfield collected the only RBI.

In the second game Dundas scored in the first inning, Chanhassen tacked two on the board in the second and the Dukes tied the game in third inning.

Triton High School standout Logan Spitzack came on in relief and slammed the door on Dundas going the next 6 innings to pick up the state title game win on the mound.  He allowed just 3 hits with 4 strikeouts, 2 walks.  Spitzack had a very good career at St. Cloud State and currently lives in Albertville.

Spitzack was an outstanding quarterback for the Triton Cobras and still holds the record for most points scored in a Hiawatha Valley League basketball game.

Veteran John McCaustlin went the first 3 2/3 innings for the Dukes, allowing 8 hits, 7 runs, 0 earned, no strikeouts, no walks.

Cannon Falls High School graduate, Pastor Charlie Ruud of Bloomington finished the game for Dundas going 4 1/3 innings, 2 earned runs, 3 strikeouts, no walks.

The Dukes had 3 errors in the first game and 4 errors in the second contest.  Chanhassen was charged with 2 errors in the first and 1 error in the second game.

The Red Birds smacked 13 hits while Dundas totaled 7 hits in the title game.

Chanhassen was led at the plate by Riley Johnson of Champlin Park with two hits including a double and RBI, Brandon Arnold of Chaska had three hits, 2 doubles, 2 RBI.  Michael Jurgella of Burnsville 2 hits and RBI, Aaron Pfaff of Bloomington 2 hits, Justin Anderson  of Minnetonka had a hit and 2 RBI.

Dundas had a 2 hit game from Carson Jones of Burnsville. Jonathon Bishop of Rosemount hit a home run and had 2 RBI.

Kenyon-Wanamingo High School graduate Drew Sathrum also played for the Dukes.

Chanhassen wins their second Class B state title.  Dundas was trying to win their 6th, the last happened in 2015.