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Sub-Districts

Round One/Game One-

Chisago Lakes 8

North Branch 7

The second season.

Last Tuesday, both Chisago Lakes and North Branch began playing with a new sense of urgency, both realizing that in the playoffs, two losses meant one thing....no more baseball.

Both teams also understood that winning the first game of a three game series was going to be crucial.

Playing in extreme heat, both teams got off to a slow start. Then in the bottom of the third, the Wildcats got on the board after a Danny Reed triple and a Mark Unger single. ‘Cats 1, North Branch 0.

It didn’t take long for the Vikings to charge back, scoring two runs in the top of the fourth to grab a 2-1 lead.

The game stayed that way until the bottom of the seventh. That’s when things really got interesting.

Trailing 2-1, Chisago exploded for four runs in the seventh, with all four runs coming on back-to-back-to-back-to-back doubles by Unger, Thomas Moody, Kyle Collins, and Karl Lee. The power burst pushed the Wildcats in front 5-2.

However, like in the fourth when North Branch fell behind, the Vikings answered with a punch of their own, scoring four runs to re-take the lead, 6-5. The back and forth battle was far from over.

Batting in the bottom of the eighth, Shawn Rancourt tied the game with an RBI single, only to have North Branch move in front again in the ninth with a run of their own. Heading into the bottom of the ninth, the Vikings held a 7-6 lead.

Needing one to tie and two to win, Collins started the inning for Chisago with a walk, followed by a Thomas Moody single, putting runners at first and third. With the tying run standing at third, Lee brought Collins home with one crack of the bat, delivering a hard hit single, accounting for his second RBI of the game.

With the scoreboard tied 7-7, and runners at the corners, the Wildcats worked the bases loaded before the Vikings got the next two batters out. Finally, with two gone and the winning run at third, Rancourt played the hero by forcing a walk, walking in the game-winning run. Final score: Chisago Lakes 8, North Branch 7.

“It was a really ugly game,” smiled Trent Grams, Chisago Lakes American Legion head coach. “But the kids did a good job of not getting down and getting it done when they had to.

“The heat was unbearable,” continued Grams. “Derrick (Olson) was pitching and we had to stop the game a couple of times for him to get him some water. It was just hot and sticky. You really have to give North Branch a lot of credit for the way they played. They shut us down in the beginning. They did everything right, I think it was just a matter of us hitting a little better.”

The win gave the Wildcats a one game lead in the best of three series, one game away from the District playoffs. Meanwhile for the Vikings, they were one game away from elimination.

Sub-Districts

Round One/Game Two-

Chisago Lakes 15

North Branch 0

Brandon Trampe could see how much their game one loss took out of his team. After the first two innings of game two, everyone could see it as well.

Playing in Lindstrom last Wednesday as the away team, the Wildcats got their first crack at North Branch in the top of the first and never looked back. The end result was a 15-0 Chisago win, advancing them to the District playoffs. As for North Branch, the loss ended their season at 5-11 overall.

The ‘Cats didn’t screw around. Leading off the game, Danny Reed stroked a double, followed by an Unger double to score the first run of the game. Collins then punched a deep sacrifice fly to the outfield, allowing Unger to score, handing the Wildcats an early 2-0 lead.

Things went from bad to worse for the Vikings in the second and third. Batting in the top of the second, Chisago tacked on six more runs, highlighted by a bases clearing double by Nick Taurinskas and an RBI double by Collins.

“It was good to get out to a good start. It puts the kids minds at ease,” commented Grams. “Also, even with a big lead, it was good to see them play well defensively. They just did a nice job on both ends.”

Already leading 8-0 through two, the ‘Cats added five more runs in the third, pushing their lead to 13-0. Taurinskas drove in two more in the third, while Collins and Unger each added RBI’s.

With the outcome of the game already determined, Lee and Reed put the finishing touches on the win, adding late RBI’s. Lee’s came in the fifth on a sacrifice fly, and Reed’s blow came in the sixth on a solo home run. That final dagger served up by Reed was what the Wildcats were looking for. It gave them a 15-0 lead, calling the game after only six innings.

“Getting that win in game one was really important for us from our standpoint,” replied Grams. “I think that set the tone in game two. If you don’t get that game one win, it puts a lot of pressure on the higher seed because you’re supposed to win. The kids were just able to relax and have fun.”

What’s next for the Wildcats might not have the same relaxing feel. Starting this week, Chisago will enter the District tourney consisting of 16 teams from District 10 North-end, North Hennepin, South Hennepin, and Wright County. The Wildcats, the top seed in North-end, will face Coon Rapids, the number four seed out of the North Hennepin, in the first round. The double elimination tourney could run until Saturday with the winner going to state.

“Tough, very tough,” smiled Grams, when asked to describe the tournament. “It’s the best teams from the North and South Hennepin along with Wright County. The kids deserve to be there, so hopefully we can go down there and win a few games and turn some heads. It’s a fun experience for everyone because college scouts will be there. It’s a good chance for everyone to show what they got. Hopefully we can show what we got as a team and make some noise.”

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District Schedule:

Round One-

(North-end games only)

Chisago Lakes vs. Coon Rapids

Cambridge vs. Maple Grove

Braham vs. Osseo

St. Francis vs. Anoka

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