When it was finally over, after more than five hours and 19 innings played over two days, the Osseo baseball team celebrated its 6-5 regular-season victory against Coon Rapids as if the Orioles had won a state title.
That sort of emotion builds up in a game one inning shy of the state record for duration. Coon Rapids assistant coach Don Bright said the umpires congratulated coaches from both teams on one of the finest games they had ever called. Four state records were set or tied.
The May 9 game did not appear headed for legendary status. Coon Rapids, the home team, led 5-2 going into the seventh inning. But Osseo tied the score in the top of the seventh.
The teams battled through nine additional scoreless innings until darkness forced the game to be suspended. The teams met last Friday, two days later, and had to honor the lineups and players used during the 16 innings played Wednesday.
A single with runners on first and third base gave the Orioles the go-ahead run in the top of the 19th.
Coon Rapids loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the inning, but the Orioles turned a double play to end the game. The teams combined to make only one error in 19 innings.
According to the Minnesota Coaches Association and Minnesota State High School League records, the game set records for most at-bats by one team (68 for Osseo), most at-bats for a player (six players each went to bat nine times) and most sacrifice bunts (five for Coon Rapids). An Osseo player tied a state record by striking out five times.
Anoka soph goes deep twice
Anoka sophomore baseball player Jason Brumbaugh went 3-for-5 in a 12-3 victory over Champlin Park on Thursday. The first of his two home runs for the Tornadoes was a three-run shot. The second was a solo home run.