Photo courtesy of Melissa Kesteloot The Marshall 15U VFW Orange baseball team poses for a photo after placing first in the Luverne tournament over the weekend. Front row (L to R): Owen Kesteloot, Cooper Mensink, Carter Prins, Logan Miller, Sam Thor and Ethan Bly. Back row (L to R): Coach Peyton Grant, Liam Kruse, Deagen Maurice, Josh Kraft, Gavin Schafer, Scott Griebel, Brody Wixon and coach Chace McDaniel. Not pictured: Alex Franson.

MARSHALL — The Marshall 15U VFW Orange baseball team took first place in the Luverne tournament over the weekend, going 3-0.

In Friday’s game against Luverne, Liam Kruse led things off on the mound for Marshall, throwing six innings and allowing only one hit with zero runs and struck out eight. Josh Kraft closed out the seventh inning facing three batters and struck out three. Marshall tallied 16 hits in the game with Owen Kesteloot, Josh Kraft, Ethan Bly and Sam Thor having multiple hits to lead the team to the 5-0 win over the Luverne Cardinals.

On Saturday morning against Dell Rapids, Owen Kesteloot led things off on the mound throwing 6 1/3 innings, allowing only five hits and struck out 11. Josh Kraft came in as relief facing two batters and struck out two. Marshall racked up 10 hits with Ethan Bly, Sam Thor and Logan Miller having multiple hits to lead the team to a 3-2 win over Dell Rapids.

In Saturday evening’s championship game against Pipestone Marshall had Ethan Bly on the mound, not allowing a single run and allowed only two hits and struck out nine. Marshall’s big inning was in the fifth, scoring eight runs thanks to walks by Logan Miller, Sam Thor, Liam Kruse and Josh Kraft, singles by Ethan Bly, Cooper Mensink and Owen Kesteloot and a double by Owen Kesteloot. The team came away with a 14-0 win to bring home the championship for the weekend.

The team is coached by Peyton Grant and Chace McDaniel.

— Content courtesy of Marshall 15U VFW Orange