---

Chisago Lakes 13, Fridley 2 (4 ½ innings)

Delaney Doriott drove in three runs and Annie Vierling scored three to lead the Wildcats to a 13-2 drubbing of the Fridley Tigers last Thursday, April 21 at Chisago Lakes. The game was shortened to 4 ½ innings because of the ten-run rule.

Doriott and Vierling also had two hits apiece. The Wildcats had just eight hits for the game, but took advantage of four walks and five errors by the Tigers. The Wildcats were also efficient offensively, leaving just four runners on base.

Fridley actually led in this one, scoring a run in the top of the first. With two outs in the bottom of the inning, Kasey Eichten reached on an error. Courtesy runner Laura Monson stole second and scored on Kayla Checkalski's single to tie the game at 1-1. In the second, the Wildcats scored four runs on two hits, a walk and three Tiger errors. Jones' two-run single was the big blow in the Wildcats' six-run third inning. The Wildcats tacked on two more in the fourth to take a 12 run lead. When they held Fridley scoreless in the top of the fifth, the Wildcats were up by more than ten runs at that point and the game was over.

Eichten struck out seven, gave up just one hit, walked two and allowed two runs (one earned) in four innings of work to pick up the win. Freshman Bryanna Fernstrom pitched the fifth, striking out two while allowing one hit, one walk and no runs.

Wildcat do-head coach Herb Jangor said, "In this one, we got the key hits when we needed them and also played well in the field, committing just two errors. Kasey pitched well. Bryanna came in, pitched a nice inning for us and got a little experience. We were able to get a couple of kids from the JV some at bats. It was a good team effort."

Benilde-St. Margaret's 13, Chisago Lakes 3 (5 innings)

Unfortunately, the Wildcats were on the other end of a drubbing just four days later. They led 3-0 after one, but Benilde came back with four in the third, aided by a controversial call, to take a 4-3 lead. The Red Knights scored six runs in the fourth inning to blow the game open on their way to a 13-3 win over the Wildcats this past Monday, April 25 at Chisago Lakes.

The Wildcats had just two hits for the game, first inning singles by Kasey Eichten and Delaney Doriott. They also took advantage of five Benilde errors in the first to score their three runs.

The Wildcats should have still been leading 3-0 after three innings. With two outs and two runners on, a Benilde runner interfered with a Wildcat player trying to make a play on a ball and should have been called out. But the umpires ignored the interference and play was allowed to continue. The Red Knights ended up with four runs that inning, aided by some sloppy Wildcat defense, and never looked back.

"Over half of the runs we gave up tonight were unearned," said Wildcat head coach Herb Jangor. "To be a great team means more than just working hard. It means getting after it mentally, too. You need to play hard, play together and play smart. We just didn't play smart tonight. You don't mind getting beat because the other team out plays you, but you mind when you lose because of your own mistakes. And that's what happened tonight. This is just one game, though. We've still got a nice team, but we don't know just how good we are yet."

The Wildcats will play at Spring Lake Park next Monday, May 2 at 4:30 p.m. On Wednesday, May 4 they'll host Columbia Heights at 4:30 p.m. at Chisago Lakes High School.

---