The Cannon Falls Bears town baseball team is off to a strong start to its season with lots of early season games. The Bears are 17-4 through the first two months of the season which includes a 10-game winning streak from May 20 to June 11.

Cannon Fall hosted its annual Josh Harrison Memorial Tournament June 11-14 and took third out of eight teams. Playing in the tournament were the Bears, Wanamingo Jacks, Dodge County Diamondbacks, the Metro Merchants, St. Paul Hops, St. Paul Mudhens, St. Peter Saints and Shoreview Stumpgrinders. Cannon Falls went 2-1 with wins over Wanamingo (11-1) and Dodge County (3-0) in the third-place game. They lost to the Hops 9-2 in their second round game. The Hens won the championship and are back-to-back tournament champions. They beat the Hops for the championship. 

Since then, Cannon Falls took one on the chin last Friday at Jack Ruhr Field against the Miesville Mudhens as the Bears lost 18-1 in seven innings. The Mudhens scored in five of the six innings they hit and batted around twice. They scored five runs in the bottom of the first, one run in the second, seven in the third, one in the fourth and four in the bottom of the sixth.

Four different Cannon Falls pitchers took the mound – Ryan Sheehan, Jadan Winchell, Tristan Zingler and Beau Zimmerman – and only Zingler, who just graduated from Randolph, was able to hold Miesville scoreless in his one inning of work. The Bears managed just three hits on offense – one apiece from Jayden Burr, Jadan Winchell and Nolan Conzemius – and their lone run came on a solo home run from Conzemius.

Cannon Falls was able to bounce back, however, with a 3-2 win at John Burch Park over the Northfield Knights 3-2 on Sunday. Tyler Johnston started on the mound for the Bears and went six innings to earn the no decision where he allowed two earned runs with five walks and three strikeouts. Luke Winchell pitched three shutout innings of relief to earn the win with four strikeouts and a pair of walks.

Jadan Winchell and Scott Peterson led the Cannon Falls offense with two hits each. Peterson, Burr and Aaron Lagios all drove in runs.

The Bears host the Pine Island Pioneers Wednesday, June 24. They then take a trip out west to play the Litchfield Blues on Friday, the Howard Lake Orphans on Saturday and the Dassel-Cokato Saints on Sunday. Cannon Falls return to John Burch Park on Wednesday, July 1, when they welcome the Faribault Lakers. They then host the Hastings Hawks on Saturday to celebrate the Fourth of July.Â