By Tom Schardin, Staff Writer
The Savage Outlaws won the regular season title in the Cannon Valley League (CVL) on July 17 doing it the hard way.
The Outlaws scored two runs in the top of the eighth inning to tie the game and then exploded for five more in the top of the 10th for a 9-4 win over Rosemount.
Savage (16-7 overall) finished 10-5 in the standings, one game ahead of Eagan. It’s the Outlaws’ first regular season title since amateur baseball returned to the city in 2000.
The Outlaws also earned the top seed and a bye in the first round of the Section 5B playoffs. The team is seeking its second state berth since 2006.
“We are definitely happy to finish on top of the league,” said Savage pitcher Travis Peterson. “We’ve worked real hard this summer. We’ve had our ups and downs and it hasn’t been easy. But we have played stronger mentally than in the past, and that’s allowed us to enjoy more highs than lows.”
Eagan is the second seed in the playoffs and also received a bye to the second round, which starts Aug. 3 and will be played at Alimagnet Fields in Burnsville. The first round of the playoffs starts Sunday, July 27 and features third-seeded Apple Valley, fourth-seeded Burnsville, fifth-seeded Lakeville and sixth-seeded Rosemount with the top two advancing to the semifinals.
The top two teams from the section qualify for state, which starts Aug. 14 in Chaska and Shakopee.
“We have matured a lot from where we were a few years back,” said Peterson. “That said, while we are excited to accomplish one goal and we’re happy to have positioned ourselves well for the postseason, there was no big celebration. We’ll enjoy this and then get back to playing baseball. We’ve still got business to take care of.”
Savage held a 2-1 lead over Rosemount going into the bottom of the eighth inning. But the Black Sox scored three runs to take the lead and put the Outlaws’ title hopes in serious jeopardy.
Savage starter Brandon Walczak got two outs in the eighth inning and almost got the third when centerfielder Zack King nearly made a diving catch to end the inning. Instead, a run scored.
Travis Peterson relieved Walczak with two on and gave up a double off the wall that gave Rosemount a 4-2 lead.
In the top of the ninth, Tyler Peterson led off with a single. Tony Peterson walked and a wild pitched move both into scoring position. Adam Evanhoff laced a two-run single to tie the game.
In the bottom of the ninth, Rosemount loaded the bases with two outs but couldn’t push the game-winning run across. In the 10th inning, Matt Mowry led off with a double for Savage, followed by Aaron Hazen’s bunt single. Luke Hellquist walked to load the bases. King followed with an RBI base on balls.
A wild pitch scored pinch runner Garret Roach for a 6-4 lead. Then, Chris Steenburg opened the floodgates with a bases-clearing double.
John Pohl pitched a perfect ninth inning for the win, striking out all three batters he faced.
Meanwhile, Walczak’s pitching line was stellar – 8 and 2/3rds innings, striking out 10 and allowing one earned run on eight hits.
Evanhoff finished three for five with three RBIs, including an RBI single in the fourth inning. Tony Peterson went one for three with three runs scored, including a solo home run in the sixth inning.
Savage will have a final tuneup before the playoffs playing host to the Blaine Fusion in a non-league game on Thursday, July 24 at 7:30 p.m.