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Lennox walks off Canova, advances into Class B quarterfinals
Lennox's Kyle Braun takes a swing against Canova on Monday at Cadwell Park.
(Ryan Deal / 605 Sports)

Lennox walks off Canova, advances into Class B quarterfinals

Aug 8, 2022
  

By Ryan Deal 

605 Sports 

MITCHELL — Corey Vasquez, a California kid, capped off a second round affair between two Cornbelt League foes on Monday. 

Vasquez’s walk-off single lifted Lennox to a 6-5 come-from-behind win over Canova in the second round of the Class B amateur baseball tournament at Cadwell Park. Vasquez’s hit capped off a three-run ninth inning for the Alpacas, who play Alexandria on Thursday in the quarterfinals. 

On Monday, Canova took a 5-3 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning. Lennox’s Drew Sweeter hit a ground ball to shortstop Riley Genzlinger, but his throwing error to catcher Garrett Gassman scored Lennox’s Riley Hoffman from third to get within one run. 

Sweeter advanced to second on the error and Cam Wulf moved to third base. Vasquez then ripped Justin Miller’s first pitch into left field, scoring Wulf and Sweeter for the win. 

“I was just looking for a good pitch up in the zone that I could hit and put the ball in play,” Vasquez said. “It felt really good and especially because I didn’t do much all day, but an opportunity came and I got it done.” 


It was Lennox’s first win this season over Canova, a perennial amateur baseball power. 

“They’re a real ball club, man,” Vasquez said. “They never give up and they always compete. They put the ball in play and throw strikes and do everything right. It felt good to put things together late and it was fun.” 

In the seventh inning, Lennox scored two runs on three hits to even the score at 3-3. In the ninth inning, Cole Gassman broke the tie with a two-run double to field. 

Canova’s Jared Miller hit a solo homer in the first inning. Jared Miller and Derek Miller drove in runs for a 3-0 lead in the third inning. Lennox got on the board with a Walker Hultgren RBI double in the third inning. Hultgren finished with three hits. 

Sweeter earned the win. He allowed seven hits, three earned runs, struck out eight batters and walked five in the complete-game performance. 

Canova starter Trey Krier lasted eight innings. He gave up 10 hits, two earned runs and struck out three batters in his eight-inning start. 

Up next, the Alpacas will face Alexandria at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the quarterfinals. 

“I am excited to play them,” Vasquez said. “This is my second year in B ball. So I’ve got to watch them play a lot. So I am excited to go play against them.”

What does Vasquez, a former University of Sioux Falls player and Renner Monarch, think about playing in Class B?

“I love it,” he said. “It’s fun to play in front of full stands and A ball you struggle to get some people in the stands and B ball it’s a lot of fun.”