Montgomery Defeats Faribault in Sunday Hit Fest

The Montgomery Mallards picked up a key DRS League 7-5 victory over Faribault at Bell Field Sunday.

The Lakers had their chances but just couldn't get the timely splash of hits to overcome a first inning crooked number put up by Montgomery.

The Mallards sent 9 batters to the plate in the first inning and scored 3 runs while connecting for three hits.

There were two walks and a hit batsman as the Mallards loaded the bases twice in the inning and achieved a RBI single by Johhy Krocak and sacrifice flies off the bats of Ryan Iverson and Derek Christensen.

Faribault answered with a run in the bottom of the first when Blake Langerud opened the inning with a double.  A passed ball allowed Langerud to go to third base and he scored on a Matt Lane single before a inning ending double play.

The Mallards turned three double plays in the game.

Hunter Nelson started the game for the Lakers on the mound and had some control issues.

The first batter of the second inning was hit by a pitch and went to second on a wild pitch.  Mike Flicek would score on a Cole Pint single to make the score 4-1.

Montgomery starting pitcher Ted Christian also struggled with the strike zone.  He walked six Lakers and hit a batter yet only one walk scored.  Christian tossed the first 5 innings with 106 pitches thrown, 60 strikes, 7 hits allowed, 5 runs, all earned.

In the bottom of the second inning Jack Jandro walked to start the inning.  Following a pop out, Dylan Valentyn crushed a baseball off the fence in left center that was just a few feet from clearing the fence.  The double scored Jandro.

Valentyn would eventually score on a balk to make it 4-3.

Nelson started the third innng by getting his third strikeout but he fell behind 3-1 to #9 hitter catcher Kyle Hintz who stroked a single to right field.

Mike Flicek was hit by a pitch again then shortstop Pat Lloyd singled loading the bases for the 4th time in less than 3 inings.

Joe Grote came in to put out the potential big inning.  He had a 5 pitch up and down in order fourth inning.

In the 5th the Mallards sent 8 batters to the plate.

Designated Hitter Nolan Readmond beat out a grounder to open the inning.  #9 hitter Hintz was walked and the Mallards were in business.  Mike Flicek stroked a 0-1 count pitch for a single to load the bases.

Lloyd walked for a RBI.  Iverson got an RBI by hustling out of a potential double play.  Krocak then cracked a RBI single to give Montgomerry all the runs they would need.

The Mallards were ahead 7-3.

In the bottom of the fifth inning Grote opened with a solid single.  Matt Lane jumped all over the first pitch he saw and cranked a two run home run to bring Faribault to within
7-5.

Following the Lane homer with no outs there was a ground out.  Jack Jandro hit a single and went to third base on a double off the bat of Nelson.

Valentyn was hit by a pitch to load the bases but Zander Fitzsimmons hit a liner to the pitcher who threw to third base and got Jandro trying to get back to the bag.

Derek Christianson came in to pitch for the Mallards in the 6th inning.  He would allow no runs while scattering 4 hits with no strikeouts and no walks.

Nelson would finish the game with 2 1/3 innings pitched, 3 strikeoouts of 20 batters faced, 2 walks, 2 hit batters, 7 hits allowed while throwing 63 pitches, 36 strikes.

Grote finished the game going 6 2/3 innings with 5 strikeouts, 3 walks, a hit batter, 4 hits allowed.  He threw 87 pitches, 55 strikes.

The final line totals were, Montgomery 7 runs, 12 hits, 1 error, 14 runners left, 10 scoring position.  Faribault 5 runs, 11 hits, 1 error, 13 runners left on base, 7 in scoring position.

Matt Lane clubbed three hits in the game with 3 RBI.  Blake Langerud had 2 hits including a double and a run scored.  Jack Jandro hit two singles and was on base 4 of the 5 times he stepped to the plate.  Valentyn was on base 3 of four times with a RBI double.

Faribault dropped their record to 10-11 while Montgomery improved to 13-9.  In DRS action the Mallards are 12-7, Lakers 8-7 according to the schedule listing on the Minnesota Baseball Association website.

Some interesting trivia for you.