Plein column: Another season in the books

Labor Day brings another season of amateur baseball in Minnesota to a close.

This year’s state tournament in Arlington and Gaylord has wrapped up and new champions were crowned. Shakopee won the Class B title and St. Cloud Ortho came away with the Class C championship.

Classic Cannon Valley teams once again made their mark.

Hampton won its first-round game before losing out and Miesville advanced with a victory before losing to the eventual state champs in Shakopee. Also, Cannon Falls and Hastings had impressive runs during the tournament.

Cannon Falls finished third in Class C and the Bears were involved in some great games.

The Cannon ballclub won a couple of exciting extra-inning contests before being eliminated via another extra-inning loss.

The Bears showed the entire state that they can play with any team and really took on the personality of their manager, Keith Meyers. Cannon Falls finished third in the state with Meyers and Rich Burr being all tournament selections.

The Hastings Hawks finished fourth in Class B and were eliminated by Sauk Rapids in a 16-inning contest. This game featured everything that is good about amateur baseball.

Both teams had numerous opportunities to win, and there was excitement throughout.

Red Wing Aces draftee Steve Boldt played a huge role in the game, pitching the first five-plus innings and then catching the remainder of the game. Boldt finished 4-for-6 with three extra-base hits, but it was just not enough as the Hawks went down in defeat.

Congratulations to Adam Barta and his team on a fine run at the tournament.

Baseball events are not yet complete, however.

Sept. 19 brings the Minnesota Baseball Hall of Fame banquet in St. Cloud, and Sept. 26 marks the Red Wing Baseball Hall of Fame at the Red Wing American Legion Club.

These two events are highlights of the year and will be special for all involved. Any fans wanting to be part of either event may contact me and I will give you all the details.

Also, the communities of Red Wing, Miesville, and Cannon Falls have submitted their names for state tournaments bids in 2013, 2014, and 2015.

We will all be working on this in the off season. Information packets are required by March 2010 with the final bidding done next June.

Thus, although the games are in the books for another season, continued work goes on in the world of Minnesota Amateur Baseball.

Tags: red wing, dan plein, cannon falls, sports, baseball, aces, bears