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North Branch 7

Chisago Lakes 1

It’s safe to assume that Jake Anderson has the Wildcats number.

Flashback to April 22. Even though the ‘Cats won the game 2-1, Anderson stole the show, allowing eight hits over seven innings of work. The Vikings were one run away from upsetting the eventual conference champs.

It was the proverbial fish that got away. Last Thursday, Anderson and the Vikings put the line back in the water and remedied the situation, landing their biggest catch of the season. As in game one, Anderson was doing the fishing.

That’s not to say the senior was all alone in the boat. Unlike the first time the two teams met, North Branch added offense, scoring four runs in the first two innings, exploding out to a 4-1 lead.

The Vikings got things started with the long ball. After hitting three home runs heading into the game, North Branch bashed two against Chisago Lakes, both coming from Matt Warren.

Warren’s first home run came in the first, putting the Vikings on the board. Marty Savage then added to the lead with an RBI single, increasing the North Branch lead to 2-0.

The Wildcats fought back with one run in the bottom of the first. After Danny Reed doubled, Thomas Moody followed with a bloop single, bringing the ‘Cats within one. It was their first and only run of the game.

The Vikings answered right back in the second. Already one for one with a home run, Warren did it again in the second, this time smashing a two-run blast out of the park, moving the North Branch lead to three, 4-1.

That’s all Anderson needed. The senior settled into a groove, cruising through the potent Wildcat line-up, paving the way for a 7-1 upset win. It was the Vikings seventh win of the season and their sixth win over their last eight games. On the other side, the loss ended the Wildcats bid at an undefeated conference season, dropping them to 15-3 overall and 11-1 in the Rum River.

“We wanted to win that thing. We played them straight up and they smacked us,” said Pat Collins, Chisago Lakes head baseball coach. “We hit poorly but Jake Anderson had a lot to do with that.”

“Jake Anderson was ready to pitch,” commented Troy Walker, North Branch head baseball coach. “We really played outstanding. We didn’t have an error in the field. All year we’ve been solid in the field and everything just came to a climax that game.”

In short, that’s been what the Vikings have been looking for. To finally find it against their fiercest rival was icing on the cake.

“You have to take your hats off to them,” commented Collins. “They played really well and they are definitely on the upswing. They’re getting hot at just the right time.”

“I told the guys after the game that all year, I had been looking for team players,” mentioned Walker. “Matt (Warren) had two home runs and two sacrifice bunts at the end of the game. How many times do you bunt with a guy who’s had two home runs in a game, but that’s what it takes to get it done sometimes. It’s a team effort and the guys are seeing that.”

Their biggest win of the season?

“Yes, no question. Hands down, our biggest win of the year.”

Don’t be surprised if Walker and the Vikings utter those words again. Say in about a week when sections begin.

North Branch 7, Chisago Lakes 1

R H E

North Branch 220 020 1 7 8

Chisago Lakes 100 000 0 1 5

North Branch-

Ryan 1-3, 2 R

Warren 2-2, 4 RBI, 2 HR

Aaland 2-4, RBI, R

Ranger 0-3

D. Stahley 1-3

Savage 1-3, RBI

Anderson 1-3

Fletcher 0-1

Meier 0-2

Gray 0-1

WP: Anderson (4-5)

7 IP, 2 K

Chisago Lakes-

Achartz 0-3

Unger 0-4

Reed 1-2, R

Moody 1-3, RBI

Collins 0-3

Lee 2-3

Olson 1-3

Froberg 0-2

Taurinskas 0-2

LP: Stomberg (5-1)

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