All week long I've been counting down the five most exciting moments from last season's Hutchinson Huskies season. Finally, today, we get to No. 1 on the heels of the season opener with Cold Spring.

Game time is 7:30 p.m. Come out and support the squad all season long.

Moment No. 1:
Mankato 5, Hutchinson 4 (12 inn)
It is always said that in an extra inning game, it’s too bad one team has to lose. With elimination on the line in the opening round of the Class B Amateur State Baseball Tournament Thursday, it was truly unfortunate that one team’s season had to end.

Mankato was a heavy favorite heading into the opening game of the tournament against Hutchinson, but for almost 12 innings, it would be hard to say either team had an advantage.

The Twins, who entered the game with a 21-1 record, squandered a 4-1 lead, but scored the winning run in the 12th inning on a bloop single to left field with two outs.

Kosuke Hattori, the speedy shortstop for the Twins, began the bottom of the 12th with a bunt single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Ben Kaus. After Jay Nessler was intentionally walked to put runners on first and second, Huskies pitcher Kyle Messner induced a pop up to the mound.

With two outs, Zach Danelson fell behind 0-2 in the count on a high fastball and breaking ball on the outside corner, but Danelson looped the third pitch of the at-bat over the head of Huskies shortstop Tim Thode, scoring Hattori with the walk-off run.

“No doubt this was a high caliber game between two good teams,” Huskies manager Lee Kuhl said. “We fought hard and I’m proud of how the guys played. It was another classic matchup at the state tournament.”

Opportunities missed
Hutchinson had a chance to take the lead in the top of the 12th inning when Jordan Schwarze singled with one out and was followed up by a walk by Chris Henke and a broken bat infield single from Andrew Dammann. It was the third walk of the game by Henke.

Twins’ Kaus relieved Jake Reuvers, who came into the game in the 11th inning. Chris Rupert pitched the first 10 innings, allowing three earned runs.

Kaus got ahead in the count on Brooks Albrecht 0-1 before the signal for a suicide squeeze was given. Kaus, recognizing the play, threw a high pitch forcing Albrecht to bunt back to the pitcher. Kaus charged the ball and shoveled it from his glove to catcher Ryan Greene, forcing Schwarze at the plate for the second out.

Eric Katzenmeyer grounded out to shortstop for the final out of the inning.Hutchinson had other chances to take the lead, but in all cases were unable to get the big hit.

"If you look at the scores of all the first round games, we had one of the most high scoring affairs. In a state tournament game it takes just one or two big hits because the pitching is pretty quality,” Kuhl said. “Mankato didn’t hit the ball very hard, but came up with a few more big hits.”

Klitzke connects on pitch
The one big hit the Huskies had came in the fifth inning with Hutchinson trailing 4-1. After Albrecht reached base on a bunt single and Katzenmeyer reached base on an error by Hattori, Luke Klitzke drilled a 2-2 fastball over the left field fence to tie the score.