Amateur baseball: Bears move on

Nothing in the last month has come easy for the Bears, and this weekend was no different. They scratched and clawed their way to two extra-inning victories at the Class C state tournament in Gaylord, Minn., advancing to the final weekend as one of four teams with an unblemished record.

Cannon Falls defeated Elrosa 4-2 in 14 innings when Rich Burr connected on a 2-run homer Saturday afternoon. Logan Godfrey’s RBI single in the bottom of the 12th inning gave the Bears a 4-3 victory over the St. Cloud Snappers.

The Bears also won their state tournament opener by one run after rolling through regional action with four straight upsets by one run apiece.

“The advantage is we’re battle-tested,” Cannon Falls player/manager Keith Meyers said. “No one panics in those situations. I don’t think anyone in the dugout felt we were going to lose and this game is 90 percent mental, as Yogi Berra says. And 50 percent physical.”

Elrosa’s Pat Illies hit a 2-run homer off Meyers in the ninth inning of Saturday’s game to tie it up. Meyers allowed two more baserunners before Robert Burr relieved to get out of the jam.

The Snappers also rallied to force extra innings, scoring two in the fifth and another in the eighth to tie it up. However, the Bears responded again.

Matt Klein, who also picked up the win, singled and was sacrificed to second base. Cory Hedeen singled to put runners on the corner and set the stage for Godfrey.

“We’re happy,” Meyers said. “Wins are wins.”

Cannon Falls advances to face Hanska Friday night in Arlington, Minn. The first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Tags: cannon falls, sports, baseball, bears