Friday, June 5 at Memorial Park in Caledonia saw the Annual Legion alumni game, which was opened by Caledonia’s youth teams squaring off — all the while raising money for the baseball programs in Caledonia. They also honored local veterans.
In the youth game, the 11-year-old squad came away with a win against the 12-year-old squad by a score of 6-4.
In the alumni game, the alumni withstood a late comeback by the Legion team and won by a score of 9-8. Caledonia Warriors baseball posted, "Caledonia Post 191 Legion versus the Caledonia alumni team was a battle for the ages. Alumni got out to a 9-0 early lead and held on to win the game 9-8. The crowd was electric last night, especially with all the youth baseball players cheering everyone on."
Despite the consistent rain, the event went off without a hitch, and Alumni Night had a great turnout. With a hot grill and cold beer, as well as baseball gear available, many people had a great time at the event.
Both games were entertaining, as the youth game was tied 4-4 up until the last inning, when a clutch single was able to score two runs to give the 11-year-olds the lead and the win.
The alumni game went a very different way, but still ended with excitement. With the Legion team coming off of a nearly two-week break, the alumni team came out swinging to start the game.
Garret Konz started for the Legion squad, striking out six in two innings of work, while giving up three runs in the effort. The alumni squad was able to rattle off nine runs in the first three innings of the game, but at that point, the Legion team started to heat up.
For the rest of the game, the Legion team was able to hold the alumni squad scoreless and began its comeback in the fourth with three runs.
With the score coming to 9-3 at the end of the fifth inning, the Legion team put the pressure on and scored five runs in the next two innings, but it was not able to surpass the alumni, and the game came to an end with the 9-8 alumni victory.
Caledonia Warriors Baseball also posted their thanks for all who helped the Alumni Night be such a success: "Tanner Ginther, awesome job umping the youth game before the alumni game along with Matt Ginther who umped and was also a part of the field crew who worked relentlessly all day to get that field playable for the youth kids and the alumni game. Chad Augedahl, Brad Augedahl, Matt Ginther, Eric Goetzinger, Chris DeFlorian, and Braiden DeFlorian — these dudes were up there all day getting diamond dry on the field, raking, sweeping, pushing water off the field and the field was awesome after all the work was done!!! Game would not have been played if it wasn’t for these guys.
"Joe Stemper, Kris Stemper, Renee Goetzinger, Sara Klug, Nichole DeFlorian, Meghan Von Arx, and so many more — the concessions and beverages made were top notch. It takes so many people to make an event like this work and we are so very grateful for the Booster Club and what they do for the baseball program.
"Dave Konz, Matt Ginther, and Eric Goetzinger — thanks for coaching these legions guys this summer and last night! Was a blast of a game.
"To all the players on Legion and the alumni guys last night, great game and a great showing of sportsmanship on and off the field and that goes a long way showing the youth of Caledonia how to play the game. Kudos to you all. Congrats to the alumni on the victory and it was a hard fought victory."
Post 191 will have two more games before the Legion tournament starts up in mid-July, with a game on Monday, July 8 against Blooming Prairie Senior Legion Post 52 at home. Game start for that will be at 6 p.m. The final game of the regular season for Post 191 will be an away game at Chatfield Post 197, starting at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 11.
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