St. Patrick Flexes Muscles in Faribault
The St. Patrick Irish scored 5 runs off two home runs on their way to a 11-2 victory over the Faribault Lakers this afternoon.
The Irish proved their depth with some normal starters not in attendance. They have run away with the DRS League. Only two losses, one of them was to Faribault at Bonin Field.
The Lakers Hunter Nelson started on the mound and 12 batters into the game St. Patrick had a 4-0 lead while nearly hitting for the cycle as a team, They only missed on a double during that time frame.
Following a walk by Kal Brohmer to start the game Jack Friedges worked the count full before crushing a RBI triple. Ryan Friedges followed with a 1-2 count RBI single.
Following a groundout Brayden Manning hit the baseball back to Nelson who threw out Friedges at third base. After a walk Nelson got a strikeout to end the first inning.
St. Patrick starting pitcher Zak Endres worked from the set all the time. He allowed 3 hits in six innings with 3 strikeouts, 4 walks and two wild pitches. Endres threw 110 pitches, 64 strikes to earn the win.
The Irish added two more runs in the second inning after two outs Brohmer hit an infield single. He stole second base (he did in the first inning also), Jack Friedges then connected for a 0-2 count home run on a hanging breaking ball.
Friedges had just clubbed a fastball very deep but foul so the pitch selection was a good one but instead of a breaking ball in the dirt or out of the strike zone it ended up hanging over the plate.
The Lakers did have their chances to get into the game.
Dylan Valentyn led the third inning off with a walk followed by a single by #9 hitter Nelson.
Faribault chose to have Blake Langerud attempt a bunt to advance both runners into scoring position and with his speed possibly load them up, but he popped the ball straight up and the catcher secured it near home plate.
Danny Pierce then hit a ball back to the pitcher which did advance the runners to second and third base but Matt Lane struck out looking at a pitch he evidently thought was inside.
In the 4th inning Joe Grote opened with a single to right field. He would go to second on a wild pitch. Nate Rost flew out to center not deep enough to advance Grote but he did advance on a Jack Jandro groundout to second base.
Ryan Archambault and Valentyn were issued back to back walks to load the bases but Tyler Francis went to the plate and grounded out.
Nelson went the first 4 innings with 8 hits allowed, 22 batters faced, 6 strikeouts, 2 walks, 87 pitches thrown, 53 strikes.
Francis came in to pitch in the 5th inning and threw 9 pitches to retire St. Patrick in order with one strikeout. His next 9 batters didn't go as well.
Blake Langerud opened the 5th inning with a ground ball hit right to the second baseman who had a fielding error. Pierce hit a grounder to third base. Langerud was thrown out at second and the relay was beaten out by Pierce.
Pierce would advance on a wild pitch during a Lane at bat that ended in a pop out to second base. Grote hammered a RBI double to make the score 4-1.
The top of the 6th inning started with a popout to first base. #9 hitter Kyle Rhodus was walked. He stole second base. Brohmer then hit a single scoring Rhodus.
Brohmer stole second and went to third base on a throwing error in the steal attempt. Following a strikeout Ryan Friedges was walked. Endres smacked a 2 run double and was thrown out trying to make it a triple,
St. Patrick 7 Faribault 1 through 6 innings with the Irish clubbing 10 hits, the Lakers 3.
The Irish opened the 7th inning with four consecutive hits. Brayden Manniing jumped on the first pitch by Francis for a single. Ben Taxdahl hit a 1-1 count double.
Zach Seurer hit a mammoth home run over the extended left field fence at Bell Field to score three runs. Dom Deluca hit a 2-2 count pitch for a double to right field.
The Lakers brought Zach Van Thomme in to pitch with a runner at second and no outs. Van Thomme struck out the first batter, retired Brohmer for the first time in the game on a groundout.
Jack Friedges then clobbered a RBI double to give him a triple, home run and double along with 4 RBI.
It appeared St. Patrick was going to win by the 10 run rule after seven innings.
The two batters of the bottom of the seventh were retired by Irish reliever Brohmer.
Aiden Tobin hit a 1-1 count pitch to right field for a single. Lane singled to right advancing Tobin to third base. Grote hit a single to left to extend the game.
Both teams went up and down in order in the 8th and 9th innings.
Francis went two plus innings allowing 7 runs on 7 hits with 2 strikeouts, 2 walks while throwing 44 pitches, 28 strikes.
Van Thomme pitched 3 innings including a mow 'em down 9th. He recorded 4 strikeouts, no walks, allowed 1 hit.
Van Thomme finished the game with 41 pitches thrown, 26 strikes. Faribault is 12-13, St. Patrick 18-2 according to their schedule on the MBA website.
The Irish stole 4 bases in the game, 3 by Brohmer, the other Rhodus.
Tuesday the Lakers host Webster at 7:30 p.m.
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