Cold Spring’s American Legion baseball squad erupted early, plating four runs in the opening inning before ultimately securing a 5‑3 victory over Willmar in the first round of the Division I Sub‑State 11 playoffs.
The rally was anchored by Max Fredin, whose two‑run RBI double drove in two of the early scores and shifted momentum in Cold Spring’s favor.
Blake Kelly added an RBI single that brought home Jace Griffin and later scored Max Fredin, extending the lead before Willmar began to chip away.
The opposing team narrowed the gap to 4‑3 in the fourth inning when Eli Hagen delivered an RBI single, but Cold Spring answered with a sixth‑inning run from Noah Olmscheid that proved crucial.
Griffin Banks also contributed for Willmar, crossing the plate on an error in the fifth, while Alex Hoppe’s sacrifice fly later in the game plated Jordan Ellingson, keeping the contest within reach.
On the mound, Nolan VanLoy earned the win with a solid five‑strikeout outing, and Reece Kalla closed the game out with a save, preserving the lead.
The contributions extended beyond the headline acts, with teammates such as Riley Laumer, Hudson Sjoberg, Cal Heying, Jace Griffin, Charlie Upgren, Reese Christianson, Logan Fagerlie and Tyler Madsen providing defensive support and timely hits that kept the offense rolling.
Looking Ahead to Sartell
Cold Spring now prepares for a showdown with top‑seeded Sartell, a team that will test the momentum built by the early offensive burst and the steady pitching performances that have characterized their playoff run.