Cummins scores 250th win with Owatonna

Owatonna baseball’s 8-5 comeback win over Rochester Century not only earned the Huskies an important Big Nine Conference win last week, but it also marked head coach Tate Cummins’ 250^th win with the program.

The Huskies’ skipper has been on the job since 2007 and has seen Owatonna baseball grow through the years.

“It’s been really good working with the kids year after year. I think this is year 20… I’ve always been very appreciative and grateful to coach in Owatonna. I’ve been surrounded by great players and coaches through the years. Our admin has always been supportive and extremely helpful. Then there’s our beautiful park and facilities. It just doesn’t get much better for a coach. I’m definitely lucky,” said Cummins.

As of last week, Cummins’ official record with the Huskies stands at 251-178.

Timely hitting and aggressive base running were the keys to the Huskies’ 8-5 win over the Panthers.

Century scored one run in the top of the first inning by chaining together a single, a stolen base and an RBI double to lead 1-0.

Owatonna promptly answered after a walk and stolen base by Isaiah Farwell turned into a run following an RBI single by Jace Ulrich to tie the game at 1-1.

Neither side scored in the second inning, but it was Owatonna that found its first lead of the game at 2-1 in the bottom of the third when the duo of Farwell and Ulrich caught fire at the plate.

Farwell notched a single on a hard-hit ball past third base and was immediately batted in via a triple by Ulrich.

The Huskies’ newfound lead had the home fans on their feet, but the electricity calmed down in the top of the fourth when the Panthers went to work scoring three runs.

Century stacked two singles to start the frame and after two passed balls, the Panthers scored a run and had a man on third with nobody out.

The Panthers’ rally continued with an RBI single and an RBI double to take a 4-2 lead.

Owatonna threatened to score quickly in the bottom of the fourth by loading the bases with a single, walk and hit-by-pitch.

Two runners ultimately crossed the plate for the Huskies when junior leadoff Nolan Rolloff smoked an RBI single into left field.

Now tied at 4-4, the game shifted beginning in the fifth inning when both teams took different approaches on the mound.

While Owatonna elected to trust Ulrich to go the distance, Century chose to pull starter Maddox Milene in the fifth.

“Jace was able to get through that tough fourth inning, settle down, and have a great fifth, sixth and seventh innings. He was great tonight,” said Cummins on his starting pitcher.

What Century hoped would be a change in momentum in its favor resulted in Owatonna piling on three runs.

The Huskies made quick work of Panthers’ reliever Lukas Mayer by recording one hit, two walks and three earned runs.

Mayer was pulled from the game without recording a single out.

Owatonna’s Farwell came in clutch again by leading off with a single and then advancing three times with one stolen base and two passed balls to score the go-ahead run at 5-4.

Century eventually allowed a second-and-third opportunity for Owatonna with one out that resulted in another run on a passed ball, followed by an RBI single from Will Radel to lead 7-4.

The Panthers went on to gain another run in the bottom of the sixth inning, but Owatonna matched the total in the bottom of the frame to round out the scoring at 8-5.

Owatonna played two more game on the week, earning a 12-2 mercy rule win over Faribault and taking an 18-8 mercy rule loss to New Prague.

The Huskies battered the Falcons for 12 runs on 14 hits, but struggled to play clean baseball against the Trojans by allowing 18 runs on 12 hits with six errors.

Owatonna’s next game will be on the road against Mankato West on Wednesday, April 29 at 6:30 p.m.

Player Stats

vs. Century

                  H    R    RBI              

Rolloff        2    1    2                 

Farwell        2    3    0                 

J. Ulrich      2    0    2                 

Frantesl      1    1    1                 

Radel          1    1    0                 

A. Ulrich      1    1    0                 

Klecker       1    0    0                 

                        IP   H    R    ER  K    BB

J. Ulrich      7    9    5    5    1    0