--By Brett Kruschke
The El Tigre Train is officially back on track after defeating the Prior Lake Jays 2-0 last Tuesday (June 29), their third win in a row. This comes on the heels of a three-game losing streak that had fans and players alike second-guessing themselves. But once again, the sun shines over Tigertown and all is right with the world.
Belle Plaine had a week between games with the 4 th of July serving as a buffer. Last night they hosted the Minnesota Gophers Traveling Team (aka the Chaska Cubs) at Tiger Park; as you know a description will be in next week’s Herald and a much longer one if we reigned victorious. The Grrr Tigers are now officially heading down the stretch run towards the CCL-White playoffs which begin Monday, July 26. Thursday night BP ventures to Poppitzville and the Victoria Vics, 7:30pm game time. Sunday the Chatfield Nine will try to retain possession of the Red Helmet in a 6:00pm contest at Arlington.
The locals are 9-2 in league play (10-5 overall) with four league games remaining and last night’s Chaska score pending. With more improvements under its belt, Tiger Park at Union Station is the place to be. Pick up your applications for the bandwagon from Brad Schultz at the concession stand, and receive fifty cents off your next haircut.
Prior Lake Jays 0 @ BP 2 (Tuesday, June 29 th)
A bit of an underdog mentality envelops when a quality Class ‘B’ team like the Jays roll into town. Shane “Just Married” Hofmann took his gaudy 6-1 record to the mound, and, working on three days rest, left after five innings with a 2-0 lead.
Belle Plaine scored in the second when the suddenly-hot Patrick “Chubbycheeks” Moriarty led off with what would be the first of his two doubles on the day, coming in to score on a two-out error by the Prior Lake third basemen. El Tigro notched their second and final run of the day when Pat “Mushmouth” Schultz laced a leadoff triple to the right-centerfield gap, and scored on an RBI groundout to short from Jeff Witt.
The plan was to see some of the Tigers bullpen arms, and they did not disappoint. In fact, they shocked the living heck out of most everyone there, perhaps including themselves. Dave Feldt worked a scoreless an efficient sixth. Zip Zellmann left a man on third in the seventh when he sat down the three-stick, ScottGeisler, on strikes.
Mike Schultz worked the 8 th and induced his magical “at-em ball” powers, and Ryan “Mongo” Witt, now be it without his rangy mane, worked the ninth to notch the save. “Mongo like candy,” and Mongo apparently like pressure too as he stranded a one-out walk and worked through a peanut-shell size strike zone.
The Tigers had only six hits on the game; Prior Lake but four. Aside from Moriarty’s doubles you knew Trace Selly would get his, as he maintained his .500 average with a two-for-four effort. I hit .500 once during the 1985 season—playing Nerf baseball in our basement (.782 actually). If Selly keeps this up he will soon be known as a modern day Omy Hahn.
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.