2017 Stars and Stripes Legion Baseball Tournament

Thanksgiving has came and gone, it's beginning to a look a lot like Christmas... Well, a little.  Rain showers at the end of November?

At any rate, plans are underway for the 13th Annual Stars and Stripes Legion Baseball Tournament in Delano, Minnesota.  The tournament will start on Saturday, July 1st and run through Tuesday, July 4th.

We are looking at expanding the tournament from an 8-team format to a 16-team format in 2017.  The tournament entry fee is $375 and guarantees 3 games, with the potential of playing up to 5 games. For those interested in participating in the tournament, please contact me as soon as possible, as spots are filling up quickly.

Here is the list of teams committed to participating so far.

Wayzata
Eagan

Crete, Nebraska
Delano

Osseo

Minneapolis SW

Athletics punch ticket to state tournament


Welcome back.

For a second straight season the Delano Athletics are returning to the Class C Minnesota state amateur baseball tournament.

The Athletics (21-9) secured a spot to state with a 7-2 win over the Maple Plain Diamond Devils Saturday afternoon in the Region 12C baseball tournament.

Though the Athletics secured a spot in the state tournament, they will continue regional play on Friday, August 14 versus the Howard Lake Orphans at 7:30 p.m. at Delano Municipal Baseball Park. Delano will be playing for state tournament seeding, and will be looking at securing the number one overall seed from the region.

Delano got things started early as they have often this season jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning.  Kevin Jaunich led off with a walk and Toby Hanson singled to right field and Jaunich advanced to third on a hit-and-run. Joey Althoff hit a sacrifice fly to left field scoring Jaunich from third. John Magee singled to right advancing Hanson to third.  Trevor Jaunichsingled to score Hanson.

Delano maintained a 2-0 lead through six innings while starting Athletics pitcher Jake Gleason was cruising and kept the Diamond Devils in check, however, with 2-outs in the top of the sixth inning Maple Plain would rally to tie the game 2-2.

In the bottom of the sixth the Athletics would bounce back to regain the lead with a five run outburst, keyed by a triple byJohn Magee that plated a pair of runs. 

Gleason picked up the win for the Athletics on the hill, tossing 6 1/3 innings, giving up two runs on six hits. In relief, Matt Arens returned to the mound after missing four weeks with a upper body injury and was effective.  Arens pitched 2 2/3 innings and gave up only one hit.

Offensively the Athletics were led by Magee, who finished the game, 3-4 with 2-RBIs.

The state amatuer baseball tournament begins August 21, hosted by Cold Spring and Watkins.