Hills-Beaver Creek High School sophomore Zach Wysong fires a throw to first base during Thursday’s consolation game of the Minnesota State Class AA Baseball Tournament in St. Cloud. Wysong and the Luverne Cardinal team went 0-2 at the state tournament, ending a 16-11 season.By John RittenhouseZach Wysong and the Luverne Cardinals were unable to win a state championship at the Minnesota State Class AA Baseball Tournament in St. Cloud Thursday.The Section 3AA champs opened the tournament by having a seven-game winning streak snapped at the hands of the St. Cloud Cathedral Crusaders.A season-ending five-run loss to La Crescent in the consolation bracket ended Luverne’s 16-11 campaign.Wysong and the Cards can take comfort in the fact that they lost to a pair of title-earning teams.After beating LHS 4-2 in the quarterfinals, SCC went on to beat Perham 6-0 before winning the state championship game (12-2) against Breck Friday.La Crescent, which beat LHS 7-2 in the first round of consolation play, bested Waconia 8-4 to win the consolation championship.Wysong was plagued by a pair of errors in the field, but he played roles in both of Luverne’s scoring innings during the tournament.The Cards trailed 4-0 heading into the top half of the sixth inning against SCC, and Wysong led the frame off with a single. He eventually was forced out at second base, but Luverne went on to score two runs in the sixth to cut SCC’s lead in half.Wysong went hitless during a five-run loss to La Crescent, but he did help the Cards take a 2-1 lead in the top of the third inning.Adam Reisch walked and Jesse Kuhlman singled before Wysong laid down a sacrifice bunt that moved the runners to third and second base respectively.Both Reisch and Kuhlman scored before the inning was complete, and the Cards remained in front 2-1 before La Crescent scored six runs in the bottom of the fifth to cap the scoring.
