The Magical Run
The 36-12 Cobras are Burnsville’s most successful Legion baseball team and the first to qualify for a spot in the American Legion World Series, in Shelby, North Carolina. While in Shelby the Cobras competed against some of the best teams in the country and enjoyed some memorable moments.
It began at the Central Plains Regional in Fargo, ND, the Cobras went 5-0 and outscored opponents 38-18. Tyler Hanson was named the regional MVP.
In the World Series, the Cobras went 1-2, winning the first game but losing the next two. Despite not doing as well as they would have liked the Cobras still left their mark in a number of ways; Their game 1 4-0 win over Napolean, OH was the first time since 2004 that the American Legion World Series (ALWS) had started with a shutout. In addition, their defense in that game played errorless ball – 1972 was the last time that the ALWS opened with an error-free game. Game 2 an 8-1 loss to Brooklawn, NJ was highlighted by 4 double plays, tying an ALWS record for the most double plays in one game. Game 3, a 3-1 loss to Petaluma, CA was a game of stranger things. Not only was it a close game but it had a number of crazy similarities. Each team had 8 hits, both leadoff hitters were the only players with two hits, each team’s No. 8 hitter had RBI singles and the two starting pitchers went six innings, allowing five hits, three walks and striking out 4.
