by Van Williams, ALB Media Director |
BP Invitational
Semifinal #2: Excelsior (MN) 4, Columbia (TN) 4
*Excelsior advances on tiebreaker of higher seed
In a back and forth game that had the feeling of a Legion playoff game, it seemed fitting that these two national powers tied in the semifinals of the BP Invitational at Mulcahy Stadium.
Under different circumstances, the game would have continued. But with a 2-hour, 15-minute time limit reached, Excelsior advanced to the championship game as a result of being a higher seed. Excelsior was the No. 1 seed out of Pool B, whereas Columbia was the No. 2 seed out of Pool A.
Hardly an ideal ending, but both teams should be congratulated after the players treated the fans to excellent baseball game. It was a rematch of last week’s Bill Miller Big Fish Wood Bat Tournament final in Kenai, won 4-0 by Columbia.
The game’s final out had plenty of drama with big Andy Hale at the plate and the tying run at third base and the winning run at first base.
Jared Wandersee got Hale to ground out to end the threat and send Excelsior back to the championship game. It felt like a save.
Excelsior’s Will Sturek came up big for his club. In the second inning, he doubled and scored to put Post 259 up 2-1. In the fifth inning he drove in a run with an RBI single that tied the game at 3-3.
This is the first time Columbia won’t win the BP title in four trips to Alaska after claiming championships in 2016, 2014 and 2012.
Columbia (TN) 011 010 10 – 4 8 0
Excelsior (MN) 110 020 0x – 4 9 2
Columbia – Mealer, James (5) and Massey. Excelsior – Wukmir, LaLonde (5), Wandersee (8) and Stoler, Masui (8). 2B – Joslin (C), Sturek (E). 3B – Will McCall (C). HR – None.