The Cathedral Crusaders beat the Fairmont Cardinals 5-4 Monday afternoon at Target Field in MInneapolis to win the Class AA state championship. The Crusaders rallied for four runs in the top of the seventh inning to earn the win.

Cathedral had a hard time getting their bats going and trailed 4-0 going in to the top of the sixth inning until Brindley Theisen knocked in a run on a Cardinal error to make the score 4-1.

After CHS reliever Dominic Austing shut down Fairmont in the bottom of of the sixth the Crusaders bats came to life.

Thomas Imholte grounded out to third base to start the top of the seventh inning but Jack Schramel legged out an infield base hit that was nearly robbed by Cardinal second baseman Matt Lytle.

Josh Thyen followed with a double to left field, scoring Schramel and making the score 4-2.  However, Jake Gross was retired in the next at bat to bring the Crusaders down to their final out.

Cathedral center fielder Brady Yoerg, now seeing Fairmont starting pitcher Spencer Chirpich for the fourth time in the game, drew a walk put the tying run on base and set the stage for the fireworks.

Senior Steven Neutzling sent a triple down the first base line to score both Yoerg and Thyen and tie the game at four.

Cathedral starting pitcher Jeff Fasching followed with a routine ground ball to shortstop Luke Becker that the Cardinals shortstop threw away to allow Neutzling to plate the game winner.

Head coach Bob Karn on the win:

Karn on this year's team:

Steven Neutzling:

 

 

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