A Night of Lead Changes and Heroic Plays
Willmar Post 1639 edged out Litchfield Post 2818 by a 13-12 margin in a VFW baseball contest that swung back and forth until the final inning, showcasing a blend of power hitting and clutch pitching.
Jacob Ellingson led the Willmar offense with three hits, five RBIs and a run scored, while Jude Huselid added three hits, four runs and a triple. Nathan Duininck contributed three hits and two RBIs, helping the team rally after early deficits.
Litchfield answered with strong performances from Reed Gilmer, who launched a two‑run homer in the third, and Tyler Eichner and Noah Housman, each collecting two hits. Jake DeBoer earned the win, pitching 1⅓ relief innings without allowing a run.
The game featured multiple lead changes, including a go‑ahead run scored by Jace Krell in the sixth against Maple Lake, and a clutch triple from Gideon Boerema that kept Litchfield in contention.
Relief pitcher Tripp McCann struck out five batters over three innings for Litchfield, while Tony Ambrose and Caleb Callander each added two hits for Nowthen in a separate matchup.
Across the region, New London‑Spicer rolled past Howard Lake 9-2, with Logan Swenson delivering a home run and two RBIs, and Teagan Kavanagh contributing three hits, a triple and two runs.
Montevideo continued its dominant stretch, defeating Cottonwood 12-1; Ben Gunlogson smashed two home runs and drove in four runs, while Gannon Reidinger and Mason Blommel each added two hits.
Glenwood‑Lowry secured a 9-5 victory over Sauk Centre, highlighted by Marc Gruber’s three hits, three RBIs, a stolen base and a run scored.
Dawson posted an 18-0 shutout of Sacred Heart, with Aiden Olson collecting three hits, four RBIs, three runs and two stolen bases to cap a prolific offensive night.