The Wanamingo Jacks ended their amateur baseball season Sunday with a 4-0 loss to Green Isle.

It was Wanamingo's first trip to the State Amateur Baseball Tournament and they had the tough draw of a veteran Green Isle team making their 21st appearance.

Wanamingo did more than just compete in the game. They out-hit the Irish seven to four, but left 10 runners on base, nine in scoring position.

The Jacks had the lead-off man on base in six of the nine innings. Twice they had runners at second and third with one out and never had a player touch home plate.

Green Isle Irish pitcher Mac Zackow has been a tournament MVP in the past and seemed to pitch better when runners were on base. The really good pitchers have that ability and Zackow is a really good pitcher.

The frustrating thing for Wanamingo is how Green Isle scored. The first run came on a bases-loaded walk in the third inning. The second run was a lead-off walk, and without a hit in the inning he scored on a two-out error. Their final two runs came in the ninth and included a lead-off hit batsman coming home on a sacrifice fly.

The wind was howling in Watkins at their beautiful ballpark, and Jacks starter Alex Roosen walked six batters in his first four innings before settling into the game. Just one run scored in that time on a bases-loaded walk. Roosen went the first seven innings and threw 124 pitches, 66 for strikes. He fanned three batters and walked seven while allowing just three hits. Noah "China" Grove pitched an inning plus and walked two and hit a batter while allowing a hit and Derek Greseth ended the game on the hill for Wanamingo.

Green Isle veteran Zackow faced 30 batters and threw 26 first pitch strikes in the game. Roosen was 15 of 31. Even while getting ahead of most hitters, the Jacks had the first man up get on base in the first, third, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth innings. Zackow threw seven innings, tossing 97 pitches, 72 for strikes. He struck out six and walked two. Alex Twenge entered the game in the eighth inning with a 2-0 lead and pitched the last two innings for Green Isle, retiring Wanamingo in order for the only time in the game in the bottom of the ninth.

The Jacks ended a terrific season with a 21-11 record and showed they truly belonged in the tournament. Some people asked me when I arrived at the ballpark if Wanamingo could "hang" with the Irish and I told them the truth, "They can really hit the ball."

Lead off batter Eric Swiggum ended the season with about 50 hits and a batting average over .400. He got on base three more times in his five trips Sunday. Alex Roosen walked twice and smacked a single. Andrew Anfinson had a hit. Kirby VanDewalker collected two hits. Peder Sviggum had a hit and a walk.

I couldn't help but think of Jack Holmes, the man the Jacks are named after, in heaven. I remember many times visiting with him after Legion baseball games talking about his hopes for a town team playing at a beautiful ballpark someday. He would hop on his motorcycle and cruise to small-town ballparks to get ideas for what he would someday have in Wanamingo.

I know Jack was leaning over the big blue batter's eye in center from heaven and smiling from ear to ear. His Wanamingo amateur team was in the state tournament and made the many fans from Wanamingo and Kenyon very proud.

The 32-7 Green Isle team will have a rematch with the Faribault Lakers on Saturday at 5PM in Cold Spring. In last year's incredible tournament run, the Lakers had an unbelievable come from way behind (8-0) win over the Irish and I'm sure they'd like a little payback.

Watkins grandstand from first base side
Watkins grandstand from first base side
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