June 14, 2006
Tigers Drop Elko, Lose to Champs
The Union Hill Bulldogs won the 8 th annual Tigertown Classic, defeating Blue Earth 5-3 in Sunday’s championship game. Please see the accompanying bracket for results, or visit www.bptigertown.com, where it is also posted.
The Tigers beat Elko – the eventual consolation champs – 1-0 on Friday night, behind a 3-hit shutout from Mike Schultz. On Saturday, El Tigerino ran into the buzzsaw that was Union Hill, dropping a 5-1 decision and bowing out of the tournament.
The weather was cool with rain often posing as a threat, but the show went on and by and large, most felt lucky to only suffer one short rain delay on the weekend. The temperature may have hurt beer sales, but pork burger and cheeseburger sales appeared robust. (I don’t think “healthy” is the exact word I’m looking for here.) Nathan Muehlenhardt’s pork burger record of ten is believed to have survived the weekend, but if you know otherwise, please leave it on the Tiger message board.
Last Tuesday, June 4, the Constructionville Growlers went west-ward to Winthrop, where play was suspended with the Tigers trailing 4-2, with one out in the 7 th. A foul ball ended up breaking the umpire’s collarbone, and he was unable to continue. Details are currently being worked out as to whether this game will be concluded, or wind up a loss for the hometown nine.
Last night the Tigers hosted Brownton, who is off to a smoldering 7-2 start in league play, 10-4 overall. Belle Plaine finds themselves 3-4 in the CCL, with a 6-7 mark overall, and has lost six of nine. Look for details in next week’s Herald, or, check the web.
This weekend the Tigers get to be tournament guests instead of hosts, as they partake in Arlington and Green Isle’s 16-team Miller Lite Invitational. Go to Green Isle’s website (www.greenisleirish.net) for the bracket, or see the bracket accompanying this story. Belle Plaine opens Friday night at 9:00 pm against Watkins, in Arlington.
Next Tuesday, June 20, Belle Plaine will visit the Shakopee Indians, for a 7:30 pm affair.
Tigers 2 @ Winthrop 4 (Tuesday, June 4 – suspended, 7 th inning)
Belle Plaine trailed 4-2 with one out in the seventh inning, when Jesse Erdahl’s foul tip went straight back and clipped the home plate umpire in the collarbone, breaking it. Unable to continue, representatives from each team met shortly to determine whether a replacement from the stands should finish out the game, but decided against it. The game was supsended until further notice.
Here I am notifying you further, and it is still suspended. Details of concluding the game may be tricky, and for that reason this game could end up in the ‘L’ column for the Tigers, without another pitch being thrown. It does appear the matter should be decided within the next week, if not sooner.
Dave Kreft took the mound for the Tigers, and has shockingly captained the effort to see this game finished. Maybe the Tigers can pull out the win and take Krefty off the hook! Ha ha, of course, it’s not about that! It’s the managerial win he really wants. But both would be nice.
Pat Schultz was 2-for-3 with a triple, and could potentially hit for the cycle if the game continues. How about these in-game updates!
Brett Kruschke had not yet entered the game, but did temporarily choke on a sunflower seed during the 3 rd inning.
Elko 0 vs. Tigers 1, Tigertown Classic (Friday, June 9 – 7 innings)
The Elko Express entered with a 13-3 record, but was stymied by the “I think I can, I think I can” right arm of Mike Schultz, who spun a 3-hit, 7-inning shutout. Welcome to the Tigertown Classic!! (Just kidding.)
Schultz never faced more than four batters in an inning and took a no-hitter into the 5 th, when the Tigers finally broke the scoreless tie in the home-half of the inning. Ryan Witt started things with a one-out single, and was replaced by pinch-runner Brett Kruschke, who tried scoring on a Brad Lawson double to the wall but was thrown out at home (by about a mile). Peter Schuneman singled to send Lawson to third, and #9-stick Paulie Dressen dropped a hit over first base for what would be the game-winning RBI.
Elko got the tying run to 2 nd in the 7 th with two outs, but Schultz recorded his sixth and final strikeout to seal the deal. Pitching – Mikey likes it!
Union Hill 5 vs. Tigers 1, Tigertown Classic (Saturday, June 10 – 7 innings)
The Tigertown Express fell short to the eventual champion Bulldogs, dropping a 5-1 decision. Sean O’Neill beat Shane Hofmann, in a matchup of pitching aces.
Belle Plaine trailed 4-0 when Nate Hartmann hit the Tigers first home run of the year, causing the Tigers to think they immediately won the game. (That’s what happens when you hit a home run… right?) Just to answer the question you shouldn’t be afraid to ask: it was over the fence, not an inside-the-parker.
Former Tiger Jeff Bruder was heckled relentlessly by the voice of Mark Huber, and proceeded to go 0-for the weekend.
This page was created and maintained by Nick Kornder, Sports Information Director at Northern State University. The views and ideas on this page are that of the author, and not those of Northern State University.