With the scored tied in the bottom of the 10th inning of Tuesday night's Class 4A, Section 4 championship game at CHS Field in St. Paul, Woodbury's Brady Mundahl stood on second base ready to fire out of his stance the moment he saw teammate Nolan Glunz make contact with the ball while in the batter's box.

Glunz took his stance at home plate and waited as Stillwater senior Adam Bruggers prepared to deliver a pitch. 

The Royals junior made his next swing count, sending a shot soaring over the gap between the Ponies' second baseman and shortstop. The single scored Mundahl and sealed Woodbury's 3-2 victory, sending the Royals to their first state tournament in more than a decade. 

Mundahl seized the moment, immediately taking off on Glunz's hit.

As the senior made his way down the base path, he saw Stillwater's third base coach flailing his arms in a circular motion, the signal to head home. But Mundahl didn't need a sign, he knew he was headed there regardless.

Stillwater centerfielder Graham Laubscher launched a throw toward the plate, but the ball fell well short and Mundahl slid in safely across, ending the game in dramatic fashion.

Mundahl released an electrically charged fist pump as he rose from the ground in celebration of Woodbury's first state tournament berth since 2004.

“It’s been a long time coming in my three years as a varsity player here,” Mundahl said as he watched teammates celebrate. “To finally get here in my senior year, it doesn’t get any better.”

Mundahl started the game on the mound and struck out five while allowing only two runs on seven hits in pitching 7 1/3 innings.

Royals coach Kevin McDermott said it was fitting that Mundahl scored the winning run, because without his performance on the mound, Woodbury (21-3) wouldn’t have been in the game.

“Our pitching was the key, and (Mundahl) battled all night,” McDermott said. "He hit the ball well too, and was big on the mound.”

Stillwater (17-9) kept the game close throughout, and Ponies coach Mike Parker said one play in the bottom of the third cost his team the game.

Neither team had scored when Glunz recorded the first of his two RBI, a result of a bouncing shot hit to Stillwater first baseman Austin Murr.

With Murr off the bag to scoop the ball, Stillwater pitcher Thomas Bruchu tried to beat Glunz to the base but didn't make it. As the official ruled Glunz was safe, the Royals scored their first run of the game.

Bruchu then threw to third base, but the ball arrived too late and the play allowed another runner to slide across home plate, giving Woodbury a 2-0 lead in a matter of moments. 

“Our first and second basemen didn’t communicate well and our pitcher didn’t cover first and that was the difference in the game,” Parker said. “But (Bruchu) pitched nine innings of unbelievable ball and he just didn’t cover first that one time."

While Stillwater's season comes to an end, Woodbury is set to return to CHS Field on June 16 for the state tournament quarterfinals.

The bat of junior Nolan Glunz sent Woodbury to the Class 4A state baseball tournament after the Royals edged Stillwater 3-2 in extra innings of the Section 4 championship on Tuesday night at CHS Field in St. Paul.

Glunz finished the night with two RBI, including one on a walk-off single in the 10th inning that scored senior Brady Mundahl and wrapped up the section title for top-seeded Woodbury (21-3).

Mundahl started on the mound and struck out five while allowing just two runs on seven hits in pitching 7 1/3 innings.

Senior reliever Tyler Gustafson picked up the win.

Junior starter Thomas Bruchu struck out three, walked six and surrendered six hits in pitching 9 innings for No. 3 seed Stillwater (17-9).

The Royals advance to their first state tournament since 2004.

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