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C.L. 3, North Branch 1

Trailing by two runs going into the top of the seventh inning against the Wildcats, the Vikings put runners on first and second with no outs. But Wildcat reliever Quinn Collins came in and shut the door on the Vikings, preserving a 3-1 win for the Wildcats Tuesday, April 29 at Chisago Lakes.

The Vikings threatened to score in both the third and fourth innings, but the Wildcats turned a 5-4-3 double play each time to keep the Vikings off the scoreboard. Meanwhile, Viking pitcher Tony Dahlberg held the Wildcats hitless through the first three innings.

The Wildcats broke through with four straight hits to start the top of the fourth. Andy Slagle led off with a single and advanced to third on Andy Willhite's double. Slagle scored on Eric Reed's single up the middle. Joey Reed doubled to left center to drive in Willhite. But with runners on second and third, Dahlberg settled down and got the next three Wildcat hitters, on two pop ups and a ground out, to keep the score at 2-0.

The Wildcats added a run in the fifth on Slagle's second home run of the season, a Harmon Killebrew-style blast with two outs that made the score 3-0 Wildcats.

The Vikings finally got on the board in the sixth. Dan Schoess led off with a single, stole second and went to third on a balk by Wildcat pitcher Joey Reed. Eric Berggren singled to right, scoring Schoess and cutting the Wildcat lead to 3-1. The next two batters flied out. Joey Reed hit Danny Ginal with a pitch to put runners at first and second, but the next batter flied out to end the inning.

Dahlberg got the Wildcats 1-2-3 in the bottom of the sixth. In the top of the seventh, Joey Reed hit Kyle Grote with a pitch and walked pinch hitter Casey Doten to put runners on first and second with no outs. The Wildcats brought in Collins to replace Reed. Collins immediately picked the runner off second for one out. He struck out the next batter and got the game's final batter to ground out to first, saving the Wildcats' 3-1 win over the Vikings.

Dahlberg gave up just five hits and struck out six in pitching the complete game loss for the Vikings. Joey Reed went the first six innings for the Wildcats, giving up four hits and striking out three to pick up the win.

"That was a fun game to watch," said Wildcat head coach Pat Collins. "Both teams played well in the field. The two double plays we had were huge. They helped us to eke out a win against a pretty good pitcher. When you can beat someone as good as Dahlberg, you feel pretty good about it. Joey Reed pitched very well for us, allowing just one run in six innings. Collins came on in the seventh and shut down their running game a little bit. I like it when a pitcher uses his moxie to get us out of those types of situations."

Chisago Lakes 7, Fridley 4

With Fridley Tiger runners on second and third, one run in and two outs in the top of the seventh, Wildcat left fielder Jack Faith raced in and caught a sinking line drive to end the game. The catch sealed a sloppy 7-4 win over the Tigers Wednesday, April 30 at Chisago Lakes.

The Wildcats scored seven runs in the first four innings and appeared to be on their way to an easy victory as starter and winning pitcher Ryan Rivard gave up just two hits and struck out three in his four inning stint. But the first two relief pitchers didn't look sharp. And four Wildcat errors didn't help matters as the Tigers clawed their way back into the game, cutting the Wildcat lead to three runs and threatening to score more in the final inning.

The Wildcats brought in Quinn Collins to end the late game madness once again. Collins needed just one pitch to do the job, getting the batter to hit the ball to Faith to end the game.

Rivard also led the way with his bat for the Wildcats. He was the only Wildcat player with more than one hit, going 3-for-3 and driving in a run. Four other Wildcats drove in a single runs in the win.

"Some of our relief pitchers had a little trouble," said Wildcat head coach Pat Collins, "and we kicked it around. But we survived it again. Jack Faith made a real nice catch at the end and Quinn did the job for us again. This was an important game for us. But, at this point in the season, every game becomes the most important game of the year as you're battling for the conference title and section seeding."

The Wildcats were scheduled to play four conference games this week: Monday, May 5 at Spring Lake Park; Tuesday, May 6 vs. St. Francis at home; Wednesday, May 7 at Robbinsdale Cooper; and tomorrow, Friday, May 9 vs. Columbia Heights at home, 4:15 p.m. The Wildcats will travel to North Branch next Monday to play the Vikings at 4:30 p.m.

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