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STMA 5

Chisago Lakes 1

After defeating non-conference foe St. Croix Falls in the first game of the season, the Wildcats were forced to get down to business last Tuesday versus St. Michael as they opened up their 2005 conference season.

However, this “season opener” wasn’t as kind to the ‘Cats. The Knights greeted Chisago by scoring the first four runs of the game en route to a 5-1 win. For the game, the Wildcats managed just four hits.

St. Michael wasted little time, spotting one run in the first and one in the second. Batting in the top of the first, the Knights put two runners on base thanks to singles before a Wildcat error allowed the first run of the game to score. Then in the second, another Chisago error gave the Knights another opportunity. This time, with one out, a Wildcat error put runners at first and third. The next batter chopped into a force out, scoring the second run of the game.

Leading 2-0, the Knights jumped in front by four with two more runs in the third. With one out, St. Michael strung together three straight hits. The third was a double, scoring two runs, moving the St. Michael lead to 4-0.

The ‘Cats managed to answer back with one run in the bottom of the fourth, but it was too little too late. Batting with the bases loaded, Andrea Nelson drove the Wildcats lone run in with a single to right, however, the junior was thrown out at first base. The Knights also gunned down a runner at home, ending the threat and ending the inning. From that point on, Chisago managed just one runner over the final three innings. Meanwhile, St. Michael scored their fifth and final run of the game in the seventh to stretch the lead to 5-1. That’s the way the game ended.

On the mound, seventh-grader Rachel Nelson took the loss, her first of the season. Nelson allowed 10 hits while walking two and striking out one. At the plate, Ariel Novak accounted for two of the Wildcats four hits in the game.

Proctor 3

Chisago Lakes 1

No question, the weather was miserable last Saturday versus Proctor, but that didn’t even compare to Steve Fisher’s mood after the game. For the second straight game, Chisago struggled at the plate, scoring just two runs, giving them three runs scored in two games (one run scored versus St. Michael). The lack of offense also led to their second loss of the season, 3-2.

Proctor opened up the scoring first by striking for one run in the top of the third. One inning later, batting in the bottom of the fourth, Nicole Oehme banged out the third Chisago hit of the inning, scoring Morgan Baumgard, tying the game 1-1. However, that was all the ‘Cats got as two strikeouts and a fly ball ended the threat.

That was big because in the top of the fifth, the Rails added two more runs on just one hit. Both runs came on sacrifice bunts, pushing the Proctor lead to 3-1 through four and a half.

The ‘Cats managed just one run the rest of the way. That came in the sixth when two errors and a passed ball trimmed the deficit to one, but the Wildcats couldn’t get any closer. In the seventh, despite putting runners on first and second with one out, two strikeouts ended the game.

Despite picking up a loss, it was another solid performance for pitcher Rachel Nelson. Nelson went the distance, allowing nine hits and walking two. She also struck out two.

Offensively, Baumgard, Oehme and Katie Reed each picked up two hits in the game.

The loss dropped the Wildcats season record to 1-2 with Virginia up next.

Chisago Lakes 4

Virginia 1

Coming off back-to-back losses, the Wildcats were looking for a break against Virginia last Saturday. They were looking for something-anything to go right. Trailing 1-0 in the fourth inning, they finally got the break they were looking for when Virginia committed two errors on the same play, allowing three runs to score. The Wildcats went onto win the game 4-1.

The game started off as a pitchers’ duel. On the mound for the ‘Cats was Rachel Nelson who was once again on top of her game. Nelson finished the game allowing just seven hits, no walks and one run. That single run came in the third inning when Virginia strung together two hits to take the early lead.

The score stayed 1-0 until the fifth inning when Chisago charged in front for the first time in the game. Batting with two outs, back-to-back hits put runners on second and third for Karina Swanberg. Swanberg lifted a fly ball to third base which was dropped, allowing one run to score. Seconds later, an errant throw by the Virginia catcher sailed into centerfield, allowing two more runs to score, moving the Chisago lead to 3-1.

The Wildcats then completed the win in the bottom of the sixth inning with an insurance run. After Ariel Novak led off the inning with a base hit, Morgan Baumgard drove her home with a double, putting the finishing touches on the Wildcats 4-1 win.

The victory evened their season record at 2-2.

Rachel Nelson (the senior third baseman) led the ‘Cats with two hits in the game while Andrea Nelson and Baumgard each added a hit.

On the mound, Rachel Nelson (the seventh-grader) picked up the win, moving her season record to 2-2.

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