Cardinals Break 5-5 Tie with Late Runs to Top Otters 9-5
Fergus Falls and Alexandria were tied 5-5 in their Central Lakes Conference baseball game when Alexandria broke the tie with a pair of fifth inning runs. The Cardinals added 2 more in the sixth and ended up with a 9-5 victory. “The Otters once again showed that they can compete with one of the top teams in our conference and section,” commented Head Coach Shane Thielke. “Both teams had strong starting pitching in this game and Levi King gave us a quality start with four-and-two-thirds innings on the mound.”
King kept the Otters in the game but had some tough luck in the bottom of the fifth when a couple of routine balls to the outfield were lost in the skyline, leading to the go ahead runs and allowing the Cardinals to take the lead for good.
Landon Gess Norling started on the hill for Alexandria and pitched 4.1 innings allowing 4 runs (3 earned) on 7 hits. He struck out 6 and walked 1 batter. Landon Raths relieved Gess Norling and picked up the win on the evening going 1.2 innings allowing 2 hits, 1 run, and 2 walks. Raths struck out two Otter batters as well. Parker Converse finished the night for his first varsity appearance on the mound going the final innings allowing 2 hits and striking out 1.
Levi King pitching against Alexandria. PHOTO by MELISSA BABOLIAN
Offensively the Cardinals collected 11 hits with Jordan Kuhnau, Sam Anderson, and Boone Branson each collecting two. Landon Gess Norling, Gavin Klimek, Cameron Simon, Kasen Muscha, and Brody Adelman each added to the hit column as well. Triples in the game were recorded by Jordan Kuhnua and Sam Anderson. Doubles were collected by Sam Anderson and Boone Branson.
Leighton Buckmeier and Kellen Stenstrom each had two hits to lead the Otters offensive effort. Andrew Klinnert and Luke Pearson notched their first varsity hits. King, Brock Scheuerman (2B), Logan Larson, and Carston Fronning (3B) also added hits.
“I was proud of how we once again battled back after an early deficit and we competed with a really good baseball team,” said Thielke. “We were able to get some key hits from younger guys in their debut and Bucky coming off the bench to get a key 2-out hit was crucial. We need to keep instilling the mindset that when your number is called, you need to be ready. We have guys who can play who may not initially be in the lineup, that is part of understanding your role and your role may change from night to night. That’s what makes baseball so much fun.”
Next up is another CLC contest with Sauk Rapids-Rice on Thursday, followed by a game with Minnewaska Area on Friday at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter.
Alexandria will continue CLC play with a game in Willmar on Thursday.
The Otter JV team improved to 3-0 on the season, beating Alexandria 10-1 late Monday evening under the lights at Knute Nelson field in Alexandria. A strong pitching performance by Isaiah Holmes and multi-hit games from Cam Wiederich, Parker Thielke and Alex Prischmann contributed to the lopsided result on the road. The win came after the JV Otters went 2-0 last week, beating Hutchinson on the road and walking-off Willmar in a 3-2 thriller at Farmers Field.
