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Chisago Lakes 13

Pine City 2 (5 innings)

Scoring runs haven’t been an issue for the Chisago Lakes baseball team this season. Try 61 runs over their first six games. Check that, 74 runs over their last seven games.

That’s after a 13-2 win over Pine City on Monday, April 25th.

The ‘Cats didn’t waste any time, scoring six runs in the second inning. Lance Baumgard led things off with a bang, drilling an RBI double to open the flood gates. From there, Mark Unger took over. Batting with two runners on, Unger smashed his second home run of the season over the fence, pushing the Wildcat lead to 4-0. Chisago then capped off the inning with two more runs thanks to an error, giving them a 6-0 run through two innings.

After a scoreless third and two runs by the Dragons in the top of the fourth, the Wildcats went back to work in the bottom of the fourth, striking for seven more runs. This time, Kyle Collins led things off with an RBI double, followed by another RBI double by Adam Gemuenden making it a 9-2 game. Not done yet, Karl Lee and Shawn Rancourt each came through with RBI singles as the big inning continued for the ‘Cats. Both hits moved the Chisago lead to 11-2. Finally, Mark Unger threw the final blow with two more RBI’s, this time on a single, giving him five RBI’s for the game.

“It’s the first time this season that our bats really came alive,” said Pat Collins, Chisago Lakes head baseball coach. “Unger had a home run, he’s really tearing the cover off the ball. The kids really were seeing the baseball and letting it fly.”

Leading by 11 runs, Jake Kuehl came in to finish the Dragons off in the top of the fifth, facing just four batters, wrapping up a 13-2 win in five innings. Zander Mueller started the game, allowing just one hit and striking out three over four inning of work.

Meanwhile, at the plate, Unger, Baumgard and Zack Stimson each finished the game with three hits. Unger added five RBI’s. In addition, Collins, Gemuenden, Lee, Baumgard and Rancourt each finished with one RBI in the game.

Chisago Lakes 11

Zimmerman 0 (five inn.)

At this rate, the Wildcats won’t play a seven inning game for the rest of the season. Last Tuesday against Zimmerman, in what has come to be the norm, the ‘Cats took down their opponent in five innings, defeating the Thunder 11-0.

The Wildcats gave themselves four early runs in the first thanks to an RBI double by Rancourt and a two-run home run by Collins. Add a fourth run by a passed ball and the rout was on.

After taking the second off, four more runs were put on the board in the third. Helped out by two Zimmerman errors, allowing three runs in, Levi Jones picked up an RBI with a sacrifice fly, putting Chisago in front 8-0 after three innings of play.

Meanwhile, the Thunder were thunder-less on offense as Chisago’s pitchers allowed just two baserunners through the first three innings, allowing just one hit. In short, the Wildcats were clicking on all cylinders.

“We were playing in horrible conditions,” said Collins. “Ike Dibble pitched the first three innings for us and he really pitched well. He stepped up and battled the weather.”

And they continued to click. Still with an 8-0 lead in the top of the fifth, the ‘Cats put Zimmerman to rest for good with three more runs to end the game. Mark Unger opened up the fifth with an RBI single, followed by two more runs on Zimmerman errors. Unger and Derrick Olson crossed home plate last, pushing the Chisago lead to 11-0, putting an end to the game in five innings.

For the game, Unger finished with four hits to go along with two runs and an RBI. Collins led the team with two RBI’s, both coming on his first inning home run. Rancourt and Jones also produced runs in the game.

The win kept the Wildcats perfect record alive, pushing them to 8-0 overall and 5-0 in the conference.

Chisago Lakes 11

Zimmerman 0

R H

Chisago Lakes 404 03 11 10

Zimmerman 000 00 0 1

Box scores (unofficial)

Unger 4-4, RBI, 2 R

Rancourt 2-3, RBI

Claeson 0-1

Collins 1-3, HR, 2 RBI

Mueller 0-1

Der. Olson 0-2, R

Kuehl 0-0, BB

Lee 1-3, R

Gemuenden 0-1

Dibble 1-2, R

Baumgard 0-1

Mansk 0-3, R

Jones 0-2, RBI

Dav. Olson 1-3, R

WP: Dibble

Chisago Lakes 8

Big Lake 0

So far this season, the Wildcats offense has stole the headlines, but make no mistake, their pitching has been just as good. Case in point, last Thursday versus Big Lake. With Derrick Olson on the mound, the Wildcats shut down the Hornets 8-0, holding them to three hits in the game. In addition, just five Hornets reached base.

Chisago got on the board in the first with a run, then in the third, the ‘Cats increased their lead to 2-0 after Stimson came across to score on an Unger sacrifice bunt.

With Big Lake still within striking distance, the Wildcats gave themselves some room in the fourth with five runs. Baumgard started the scoring with an RBI single, bringing in Derrick Olson. Two batters later, David Olson added to the Wildcat lead by blasting a double to left with the bases loaded, stretching the lead to 5-0. Not done yet, Stimson followed Olson with a two-run single, driving in Rancourt and Olson for the sixth and seventh runs of the game.

The ‘Cats struck for the eighth and final time in the fifth after Gemuenden drove in Collins with a double, bringing the final score to 8-0.

“That was a huge win for us. Big Lake is one of those teams in the conference that we knew we had to get bye,” commented Collins. “Derrick Olson pitched his butt off. He pitched really well and we were able to pick away and get some runs.”

Offensively, Chisago finished the game with eight hits. Stimson and David Olson each connected for two. They both led the team in RBI’s, each driving in two runners apiece. Unger, Gemuenden and Baumgard also finished the game with RBI’s.

With the victory, Chisago Lakes moved to 9-0 on the season with four more games this week. That includes match-ups against Hibbing and St. Francis on Friday and Saturday.

Chisago Lakes 8

Big Lake 0

R H

Big Lake 000 000 0 0 3

Chisago Lakes 101 510 X 8 8

Box scores (unofficial)

Stimson 2-3, 2 RBI, 2 R

Unger 0-2, RBI

Collins 1-2, R

Der. Olson 0-2, R

Gemuenden 1-2, RBI

Lee 1-3, R

Baumgard 1-3, RBI, R

Rancourt 0-2, R

Mansk 0-1

Dav. Olson 2-2, 2 RBI, R

Dibble 0-1

WP: Derrick Olson

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