DETROIT LAKES, Minn. - Fergus Falls became four-time defending Minnesota Division I, District 9 champions on Monday with a 5-1 American Legion baseball victory over Moorhead.
It was the second straight year Fergus Falls defeated the Blues for the district championship.
"This is one of the greatest feelings in the world," said Fergus Falls designated hitter Jake Anderson. "Coming into the year, we looked rough, but we improved drastically from Day 1 to now, and that's what you want."
Fergus Falls appreciates what an accomplishment winning four straight district titles is.
"Anytime you can win one, it's special, and every year after you win one and then another, you put a target on your back," said Fergus Falls head coach Nick Lewis. "We were talking at the beginning of the year about how we need to make the game a lot easier on ourselves, and one of the ways is by having that target on our back because we can only expect one thing from every team that we play, and that's their very best."
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Fergus Falls rode the arm of pitcher Zach Rengel to victory against the Blues, who they had already faced six times this season, including a 6-2 loss to the Blues on Sunday.
"I think this is my fourth time pitching against Moorhead, so coming in I knew they were a good team and I kind of knew, who their good hitters were, but you got to give them a lot of credit," said Rengel, who went seven innings and only allowed one run.
"I hadn't been feeling my best this summer, and it was just really good to come out and throw strikes and pitch well for my team and they played great defense, so it was really great to get back on track."
Despite only having five hits, Fergus Falls was able to pound out five runs, two of which came from the bat of Anderson, who had RBI singles in the third and seventh inning, respectively.
"I just wanted to relax, sit back with a nice easy swing and put the ball in play," said Anderson who went 3-for-5 on the night. "I just use my legs and that worked for me today."
On August 3, Fergus Falls, will head to the Division I state tournament in Chaska, to compete against the best from around the state.
"I'm looking forward to going up against the state's best and seeing where we rank," said Anderson. "I just want to know where we stand. If we can win a few, that's great. If we don't I just want to compete.
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Rengel, Gaustad (8) and Heinen. Rahman, Hendrickson (7) and Johnson. W-Rengel L-Rahman.
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Aaron Saunders at (701) 241-5549
