Sunday, May 15
|
| Belle Plaine | 12 |
| Gaylord | 3 |
UP NEXT |
| Henderson | |
| Belle Plaine | 7 PM |
--by Brett Kruschke
If the Belle Plaine Tigers had to experience both ends
of a blowout, certainly they would have chosen the way it turned out. El
Tigre got pummeled in a non-league duel at Dassel, 17-2 in six innings,
before turning the tables on Gaylord a few days later with a 12-3 win in the
RVL opener.
Factoring in the season-opening roller-coaster victory
against St. Benedict, the Tigers are 2-1 overall with a 1-0 record in River
Valley League play.
The local nine will play a pair of league games at home
this weekend, starting with the reborn Henderson Tigers at 7 pm on Friday.
RTL Construction is sponsoring the game promotion, which is a free hot dog,
chips, and pop for all fans – courtesy of RTL!
On Sunday, the BP Boppers will host the Arlington A’s
at 2 pm on Dollar Dog Day. That means $1 hot dogs throughout the game, while
supplies last.
Between games, be sure to log heavy time at
bptigertown.com – and at the Tigers social media channels: BP Tigertown on
Facebook and Twitter.
BP 2 @ Dassel-Cokato 17 (Friday, May 13 – 6
innings)
Because of the early-season nature of
thinner-than-usual rosters, it was agreed that this exhibition contest at
the Masters-like quality turf of Saints Field in Dassel would be shortened
to seven innings. However, the hosts insisted that the Tigers’ stay would be
even shorter.
Belle Plaine started like a house afire, as Tyler
O’Brien’s leadoff double turned into the game’s first run when Carsen Ladd
singled him home. After a walk to Jake Mercado, cleanup hitter Jared Miller
plated Ladd for a 2-0 advantage.
Little did our roving reporter realize that would be
the end of our scoring updates.
O’Brien started on the mound and hung a goose egg in
the first inning but the Dassel-Cokato Saints soon started a conga line,
plating eight runs in the second inning, two more in the fifth and five in
the fourth for a discombobulating 15-2 lead. Two more DC runs in the fifth
was the end of the uprising, and after three more outs, the end of the
contest.
It was Super Hero Night in Dassel, but on this evening,
at least, there were many more dressed as Saints than Tigers.
BP 12 @ Gaylord 3 (Sunday, May 15)
A glance at the lineup card against Gaylord showed that
the Tigers were better armed for this contest than in either of their first
two games. And, it showed as the Big Grrr put forth their best effort of the
season on both sides of the ball.
Derek Hoffman took the hill for Belle Plaine, but not
before his mates once again struck for two runs in the top of the first. For
those of you paying attention, that’s 13 runs in the first inning for the
Tigers this season in just three games.
Hoffman was impressive, working four frames of
scoreless ball with six strikeouts. He handed off the rawhide to Colton
Kerkow, who last pitched on Opening Night. Kerkow also kept runs off the
board, chucking two scoreless innings to earn the win.
The first-inning runs stood up as the game’s only
scoring before Team Tigertown broke things open in the sixth with a
seven-spot on seven hits.
Gaylord got on the board at last against Jake Mercado,
who picked up the save by working the final three frames. He allowed three
runs (two earned) and punched out three Islanders.
Hitting heroes for La Tigra was Mercado, who swatted a
pair of home runs among his four hits, driving in three runs while earning
“Gremlin of the Game” honors. Carsen Ladd also filled up the box score,
going 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles and five RBI. The Tigers finished with
15 hits in all.
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Dave “Greek” Wagner
*NEW* Minnesota Amateur
Baseball Hall of Famer
