Bluffton scores 3 runs in bottom of the 12th inning to advance to final 16 teams, to play Saturday

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

In a wild finish in the round of 32 at the state tournament, Bluffton scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 12th inning to come away with a 4-3 win over the Hutchinson Huskies on Saturday at Bell Field in Faribault.

After Hutchinson broke a 1-1 tie in the top half of the 12th inning on a 2-run homer to left center, the Braves were down to their final three outs when they came up to bat in the bottom half of the 12th inning. Logan Pulju started the game-winning rally with a single to center field. Isaac Hamann followed with a single of his own to leave runners on first and second base with no outs. Peyton Rondesveldt then followed with a double to center field to bring both Pulju and Hamann across the plate to tie the game at 3-3. 

The game-winning run scored on an error when Josh Dkyhoff’s fly ball to right field bounced off the fielder’s glove and allowed Rondesveldt to cross the plate and send the Braves to the round of 16. 

In what started as a pitcher’s duel, Bluffton took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Jake Dykhoff beat out an infield hit, before Justin Dykhoff hit an opposite field single to right center and Wyatt Hamann drove in Jake Dykhoff with a single to center field. 

Hutchinson tied the game at 1-1 in the seventh inning when Lane Glaser hit a solo home run over the center field fence. 

The game remained at 1-1 until the wild 12th inning, which saw a combined 5 runs. 

Jake Dykhoff started the game on the mound for the Braves and went 8 innings, giving up just 1 run and 6 hits, while striking out 10 batters. 

Kolby Kiser, a draftee from Sebeka, earned the victory by throwing the final 4 innings of the game. He gave up just 2 earned runs on 2 hits and 2 strikeouts.

With the win, the Braves have advanced to the final 16 and will take on the Jordan Brewers on Saturday at 11 a.m. in Dundas. The Brewers advanced to the final 16 after defeating the Ada Athletics by a score of 5-1 on Saturday. The winner of the game will take on either the Nisswa Lighting or New Ulm Brewers on Sunday, Sept. 4 in Dundas. 

The Class C championship game is set for Monday, Sept. 5 at 12 p.m. in Faribault. 

Other final 16 games in the Class C tournament include: Bird Island vs. Red Wing, Webster vs. Watertown, Dumont vs. Stark, Buckman vs. Waconia, Isanti vs. Delano and Avon vs. St. Patrick. 

AB R H     BI

Peyton Rondestvedt 6 1 2 2

Josh Dykhoff 6 0 2 0

Jake Dykhoff 5 1 1 0

Justin Dykhoff 5 0 1 0

Wyatt Hamann 4 0 2 1

Kurt Mursu 1 0 1 0

Kyle Dykhoff 5 0 0 0

Cody Geiser 3 0 0 0

Connor Davis 2 0 0 0

Logan Pulju 4 1 1 0

Isaac Hamann 5 1 3 0

HITTING- 2B- Peyton Rondestvedt

PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-k)- Jake Dykhoff 8-6-1-1-1-10, Kolby Keiser 4-2-2-2-1-2