Extra Inning Homer from Powers Lifts Otters Past Sartell
Great pitching, solid defense, and late inning heroics all played a part in the 4-2 Central Lakes Conference baseball win by Fergus Falls over Sartell on Thursday night.
For the second game in a row, the otters faced a DII commit, this time it was Wesley Johnson from Sartell who has committed to Winona State. Johnson took the ball on Thursday night at St. Cloud Orthopedics field in Sartell. The otters Ethan Gronwold was equal to the task in the pitcher’s dual. Gronwold was a grinder, going 6 2/3 innings before his pitch count forced him to hand the ball to Carston Fronning with 2 outs and the bases loaded. Fronning did the job, getting the Sabres batter to pop out, ending the threat and sending the game into extra innings. That’s when a lead off walk issued to Leighton Buckmeier brought Hunter Powers to the plate. Powers took the first pitch he saw and hit a deep fly ball down the line, clearing the right field fence and giving the Otters a 2 run lead. That was all Fronning needed as he fanned the first 2 batters in the bottom of the 8th and after a 2 out single, he was able to finish the inning, striking out his third hitter of the inning and sending the Otters home with the victory.
"Ethan Gronwold was gritty all night, working ahead of hitters," commented Head Coach Shane Thielke of the Otters. "I was proud of how he kept his composure, working out of jams and giving us a chance to win."
The Otters managed to get 6 hits led by Fronning (2-4), Powers and Brock Scheuerman had clutch at bats when they needed it most. Scheuerman with a 2 out, 2 run single in the 3rd and Powers with his first varsity home run in the 8th. Cam Wiederich collected his first varsity hit, getting the start at 2nd base after tearing up JV pitching all spring.
"This was a great team win for us tonight," added Coach Thielke. "It’s been a tough week for us, losing our pitching coach and good friend Dave Sagerhorn has been hard on everyone, so it was only fitting that our pitching performances by Gronwold and Fronning carried us through to this big win. We know when we throw strikes and make plays, we have a chance to win…tonight it all came together…and maybe there was a little extra push from the heavens tonight on that ball hit by Powers. We needed this one!"
The Otters will face Little Falls and Detroit Lakes on Friday at Washington Park in DL.
Teammates greet Hunter Powers after his home run. PHOTO by MELISSA BABOLIAN
Carston Fronning pitching. PHOTO by MELISSA BABOLIAN
