Rochester Redhawks take third place at American Legion state tournament

The Rochester Redhawks concluded their Division I American Legion baseball state tournament with a third-place finish, marking the best-ever result for a Redhawks team at the state level. Though they did not claim the ultimate prize, the Redhawks received the prestigious Red Haddox trophy, named after the legendary coach of the Bloomington Gold American Legion program and a long-time Vice-Director of Legion baseball in the state.

The third-place finish was attributed to St. Michael's decision to forfeit the third-place game on Sunday afternoon. Rochester coach Tom Senne expressed disappointment over the forfeit, stating that it took away the final opportunity for players and parents to be part of a game.

Despite the loss, the Redhawks can look back on a season filled with notable achievements. Their overall record for the summer stands at 25-10, with the team earning their way to state by overcoming an 11-inning victory against Winona in a win-or-go-home game during the First District tournament. In the state tournament, the Redhawks had a record of 4-2, with their sole losses coming against the teams that faced each other in the state title game.

State champion Excelsior Blue edged the Redhawks 8-5 in pool play on Thursday, while Wayzata defeated Rochester 8-2 in the semifinal game on Sunday morning.

During the semifinal game against Wayzata, the Redhawks took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning but eventually fell 8-2 after Wayzata scored a two-run grand slam in the fourth inning and added two more runs in the fifth inning. Redhawks standout Gavin Werneburg contributed significantly with three hits, including a double and a run scored, while Lincoln Majerus and Carter Funk also had notable performances.

Senne reflected on the team's accomplishments, acknowledging it as the best finish in a Legion season and expressing gratitude for coaching such a talented group of players, knowing it would be their final season together.