A Touch of Class at Bell Field in Salute to Veterans

The Faribault American Legion Color Guard presented the colors before the Faribault Lakers and Faribault Flames games Sunday during a Salute to Veterans Day.

Angela Storch also sang the national anthem before each game.

Every time I attend a game where a color guard makes a presentation, I feel proud to live here. It just adds class to the event, and with Storch's beautiful renditions of the "Star Spangled Banner," a good crowd seemed to enjoy the moments also.

During the seventh inning stretch of the Lakers game, about 25 veterans' names were shared and they were recognized with applause from those in attendance and the Faribault and New Prague teams.

During the fifth inning of the Flames game, veterans were honored again and after the names were shared during each game, Lee Greenwood's "God Bless The U.S.A." was played over the loudspeakers while everyone stood in honor of all veterans.

Bell Field was decked out with special red, white and blue balloons and there were flag decorations on fencing around the grandstand.

The Lakers didn't give their fans a lot to cheer about.

New Prague knocked the ball around in a five-hit five-run seventh inning against Faribault ace Matt Lane. The Orioles finished the game with 12 hits and the Lakers had six.

New Prague pitcher Joel Zimmerman allowed just two hits through the first five innings. He struck out two, walked three and hit two batters while throwing 125 pitches, 80 for strikes. Lane threw 129 pitches, 93 for strikes, and struck out nine batters, walked one and hit two.

New Prague scored their first run on an error in the sixth inning.

Designated Hitter Dustin Steinhoff led the inning with a single and his pinch runner scored after he was sacrificed to second and the No. 6 hitter James Fuerniss smacked a grounder toward the shortstop hole and a throw attempting to get him out at first went wide of the first baseman.

The Orioles' No. 9 hitter struck out to start the seventh inning followed by a single by Jason Novak.

On a 0-1 count, Aaron Kes leaned into an inside pitch and was hit by the ball so he went to first base.

A fly out to center field produced the second out before the hit-fest began for New Prague. An RBI double by Steinhoff was followed by a two RBI single by Zack Dubanowski. Fuerniss then singled and Dan Novak singled with Fuerniss gaining third base.

Lane stepped off the rubber after the runner took off from first base attempting to get him out for the third out and a balk was called, awarding Fuerniss home plate and New Prague's sixth run.

Faribault plated two runs in the eighth after Mitch Johnson was hit by a pitch to start the inning; Porter Sartor came in to run at first base. Sartor went to second on a wild pitch and went to third on a Blake Langerud ground out to first base. Joe Grote then stroked a RBI double and scored on an RBI single by Lane.

The Lakers got the lead off man on in the ninth but just three men came to the plate thanks to a game-ending doubleplay.

In the Faribault Flames 35 and older game, the fans had a little more to cheer about with Faribault scoring a 3-1 win over the Lonsdale Jokers.

Lonsdale opened the scoring in the first when Brian Vosejpka had an RBI double, scoring Scott Malecha, who came all the way from first base to score..

Faribault answered in the bottom of the first when Eric Sammon scored on an error after getting into a run down between third and home.

Sammon opened the inning with a walk and, after a single by Dusty Dienst, Kyle Green bunted the two over.

Brian Paukert hit a ground ball and Sammon took off early getting into the run down but while heading home he was hit in the back with the throw and scored.

The next batter hit into a double play.

Faribault's other two runs would come in the fourth inning.

With one out, Green had a single and stole second base. Paukert then collected an RBI single. Randy Grunseth was safe on a fielder's choice and scored on a Pat Nelson RBI single.

Kyle Green got the win on the mound while throwing 88 pitches, 59 for strikes. He struck out one and walked one while allowing seven hits.

Vosejpka threw for Lonsdale and also went the distance throwing 92 pitches, 56 for strikes, while getting three strikeouts and walking three. He scattered six hits.

Green and Nelson were our Faribault State Farm Agents Tony Langerud and Jason Krohn players of the game in the Flames win and Mitch Johnson and Jack Helgeson were the State Farm Agents Jason Krohn and Tony Langerud players of the game in the Laker contest.

Helgeson made an outstanding diving catch in right center field in the third inning, then popped to his feet and threw a one hopper to second base to get a runner trying to advance there on the play to end the inning.

The Lakers host New Market on Tuesday at Bell Field and the Flames' next home game is next Sunday at 6PM when Webster comes to Faribault.