American Legion baseball: Willmar rallies to down Alexandria.

Joe Brown, West Central Tribune, Willmar, Minn.
·2 min read

Jun. 30—ALEXANDRIA — The top-ranked Willmar Legion baseball team didn't let one bad inning ruin its night.

Tenth-ranked Alexandria put up a four-run bottom of the fourth inning to take a two-run lead. But Post 167 responded with three runs in the fifth and two in the seventh to come away with a 7-4 victory on Thursday.

Alexandria got an RBI single by Cole Vatnsdal. Then, Reed Reisdorf drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game. The next batter, Brock Lerfald, gave Post 87 the lead following a two-run single.

Down 4-2, Willmar's first four batters of the top of the fifth reached base. Ian Koosman hit an RBI single to make it a one-run game. Cayden Hansen scored on a Dylan Arndorfer ground out to tie it up. Trying to turn a double play, Alexandria had a throwing error at first base that gave Sam Etterman the chance to reach home to give Willmar the lead. Hansen scored three runs, finishing 1-for-2 with two walks.

In the seventh, Dylan Arndorfer had an RBI single, driving in his third run of the game. That was followed by a one-run double by Jason Malmgren.

Koosman led Post 167's offense, going 2-for-4 with an RBI. He was also the winning pitcher after striking out six over four innings. Malmgren threw three innings of scoreless relief to help secure the victory.

Willmar is scheduled to play in the three-day New Ulm tournament Friday through Sunday. Post 167 has two games in pool play at Searles: against Plover (Wisconsin) at 6:30 p.m. Friday; and against Sleepy Eye at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.

Willmar 101 030 2-7 7 0

Alexandria 000 400 0-4 8 0

Hitting — Willmar: Cayden Hansen 1-2 r-3 bb-2, Sam Etterman 1-2 r-2 bb-2, Ian Koosman 2-4 rbi, Dylan Arndorfer 1-4 rbi-3, Jason Malmgren 1-3 2b rbi bb, Sam Raitz 1-2 r bb sb, Hunter Magnuson 0-3 r bb ... Alexandria: Brock Lerfald 2-3 2b rbi-2 bb, Jonathan Hennen 1-3, Nate Hammerback 1-4, Jaxon Schoenrock 1-4 r, August Gulbranson 2-3 r, Cole Vatnsdal 1-2 r rbi, Spencer Schmidt 0-0 r

Pitching (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) — Willmar: Koosman (W) 4-6-4-4-3-6, Malmgren 3-2-0-0-1-0 ... Alexandria: Hennen 4-3-2-1-2-6, Devin Cimbura (L) 2-2-3-3-3-5, Schoenrock 1-2-2-2-2-2