It took a couple of extra innings, but the Heron Lake-Okabena / Fulda Coyotes improved to 2-1 for the season and won their Red Rock Conference opener on a wet field in Heron Lake last Tuesday (April 9) as they edged Red Rock Central / Westbrook-Walnut Grove by the final score of 3-2.
The game was originally scheduled to be played in Lamberton, but was moved to Heron Lake when RRC’s home field was deemed to too wet to play on.
Senior Eli Becker, who pitched the final two-and-two-thirds innings and picked up his second win of the new season, scored the winning run when he raced home from third base on a throw to first by the Falcons’ catcher following a dropped third strike on Coyote freshman first baseman Tyson Cotter.
Becker had reached base on a throwing error by the Falcons’ shortstop to start HL-O / Fulda’s bottom of the ninth. After sophomore catcher Matt Madsen drew a walk, Becker advanced to third on a 6-4 fielder’s choice as senior center fielder was safe at first base and his younger brother was out at second. Andrew later stole second and the Coyotes had runners on second and third with just one out when Cotter stepped to the plate.
Cotter went down swinging on the fifth pitch, but took off for first when the catcher dropped the ball. The throw to first was in time to nail Tyson for the second out, but Becker streaked home easily for the winning run before the return throw from first reached the plate.
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