By John RittenhouseThe conclusion of the high school baseball campaign marked the beginning of the summer season for Zach Wysong.Wysong, a Hills-Beaver Creek High School student, will play baseball for Luverne’s VFW and American Legion teams this summer.The junior-to-be at H-BC was put to the test of playing four Legion games and two VFW games in a seven-day span that ended with a Legion tilt against Pipestone in Luverne Tuesday.Wysong was hitless in two trips to the plate during a 6-4 loss to Pipestone.Wysong played two games Sunday with Luverne’s Legion team that placed 2-2 and finished second at the Jackson Tournament.During a 5-2 win over Adrian Sunday afternoon, Wysong helped the Cards ice the game in a three-run sixth inning with a two-run double.The game was tied at two heading into the top of the sixth. Wysong’s double broke the deadlock.Wysong also played in the tournament’s championship game late Sunday afternoon.Luverne lost a 3-2 decision to Minnesota Lake in the title tilt.Wysong, who was hit by a pitch and scored a run that gave Luverne a 2-1 edge in the bottom of the fourth, had one hit in the contest.Prior to playing Legion ball in Jackson, Wysong played three games with Luverne’s VFW team at the New Ulm Tournament Friday and Saturday.Luverne opened the tournament by losing a 7-0 decision to Rochester Friday morning.Wysong was the only Luverne player to register a hit in the game. He singled in the top of the fourth inning.Wysong drove in three runs with a pair of hits during a 13-11 loss Saturday afternoon to New Ulm’s Junior Legion team.He slapped a run-scoring single in the fifth and added a two-run rally in the sixth to help Luverne erase a 10-2 deficit and tie the game at 11. The Cards ended up losing the game in eight innings.Wysong was the winning pitcher in the tournament finale against St. Cloud.He worked all seven innings of a 7-6 victory.Wysong helped his cause by slapping two hits and driving in two runs. He had a two-run double in a three-run third inning that gave the Cards a 4-1 lead.Before playing in New Ulm, Wysong and the Luverne Legion team opened the 2003 season by beating Adrian 12-0 in Adrian Wednesday, June 25.Wysong was hitless in three trips to the plate in Adrian.The Legion plays five games at the Brookings, S.D., tournament Friday through Sunday. The Legion hosts Edgerton at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
