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Hinckley 20, Chisago Lakes 12
What can you say about a four-hour game that featured 32 runs, 26 hits, 12 errors and 22 walks (18 by Bulldog pitchers)?  You can say that everybody – players, coaches, fans and one very tired umpire – were glad when it was over.  The Hinckley Knights came out on top, 20-12.  The game was played at Hinckley’s wonderful ballpark on Wednesday, July 22.

The Bulldogs jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first on a two-run double by Dusty Rhodes and run-scoring singles by Hunter Lindstrom and Dylan Magnuson.  The Knights scored six in the bottom of the second to go up 6-4.  Trailing 8-4 going into the top of the fifth, the Bulldogs tied it up, highlighted by a two-out, three-run double by Dylan Magnuson that bounced on the warning track in straightaway left.  Hinckley responded with four runs in the bottom of the inning and continued to build their lead throughout the game.  Rhodes drove in two runs with a single in the sixth, and Tanner Marquardt and Derrick Kluge each drove in a run in the seventh to account for the rest of the Bulldog runs.

Chisago Lakes 5, Braham 3
Hunter Lindstrom pitched his third straight complete game and struck out nine to lead the Bulldogs to a 5-3 win over the Braham Snappers Friday, July 24 at Pat Collins Field at Chisago Lakes High School.  Lindstrom allowed three runs (two earned) on nine hits, hit two and walked two in recording his first win of the season.

The Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first.  Tanner Marquardt led off with a bunt single, Derrick Kluge sacrificed him to second and Dusty Rhodes drove him in with a sacrifice fly.  In the fifth, Tyler Stilp singled to drive in Marquardt to tie the score at 2-2.  Lindstrom led off the sixth with a single and stole second.  One out later, Adam Hanson walked.  Marquardt hit a grounder to second.  The second baseman flipped the ball to the shortstop to force Hanson.  Lindstrom slipped after rounding third and appeared to be a dead duck as the shortstop fired towards third.  But the poor throw bounced past the third basemen.  Lindstrom scrambled to his feet and scored, with Marquardt taking second.  Two wild pitches later, Marquardt scored to make it 4-2.  Kluge doubled to right and scored on a single by Stilp.  The Snappers managed to score an unearned run in the bottom of the eighth, but Lindstrom and the Bulldog defense shut them down the rest of the way.  

Chisago Lakes 6, Quamba 5
The Bulldogs had a fun and productive day in Quamba on Sunday, July 25.  Super utility man Jeremy Knutson played all nine positions (see related article), Dylan Magnuson picked up his second win of the season and Hunter Lindstrom shut the door with his first save of the season just two days after his most recent complete game.  The Bulldogs won 6-5 over the Quamba Cubs.

The Bulldogs trailed 2-0 going into the top of the fifth.  Knutson and Max McDonough led off with singles.  Pinch-hitter Chuck Fitzer’s two-strike sacrifice bunt sent the runners to second and third.  Derrick Kluge followed with a two-run triple to deep right center and scored on a wild pitch to give the Bulldogs a 3-2 lead.  The Cubs scored two unearned runs in the sixth to take a 4-3 lead.  Max McDonough and Jacob Mickelson were both hit by pitches to open the seventh.  Kluge singled to lead the bases.  Logan Bjorkman drew a walk to drive in the tying run.  Tyler Stilp singled to right to drive in Kluge with the go-ahead run, leaving the bases loaded with no outs.  But a strikeout, a popup and a fly ball ended this inning with the Bulldogs ahead by one.

Mickelson relieved Magnuson in the bottom of the eighth and need just five pitches for a 1-2-3 inning.  In the top of the ninth, Bjorkman and Dusty Rhodes walked to put runners on second with two outs.  Hunter Lindstrom singled to load the bases.  Magnuson drew a walk to drive in a run and extend the Bulldog lead to 6-4.  With Knutson at the plate and a 1-2 count, Rhodes took a long lead at third.  The pitch came in and Knutson took it for ball two as Rhodes lengthened his lead.  When the catcher flipped the ball back to the pitcher, Rhodes took off for home.  The pitcher threw the ball back to the catcher.  Rhodes dove to the outside of the plate and appeared to be safe, but his hand missed the plate, the catcher put the tag on him, and Rhodes was out.

In the bottom of the ninth, an infield hit and a double down the left field line that appeared foul put Quamba runners on second and third with no outs.  Lindstrom cam in to relieve Mickelson.  The next batter hit a grounder to Knutson at third.  He fired home to Bjorkman for the first out, and the score stayed 6-4.  The next batter singled to left to drive in a run and cut the score to 6-5, leaving runners on first and second with one out.  But the next batter hit into a 6-4-3 double play to end the game and give the Bulldogs just their third win of the season.

Bulldog Banter
The double-elimination Region 1C playoffs begin this Saturday, August 1.  The tenth-seeded Bulldogs (3-7) will face seventh-seeded Hinckley at 7 p.m. on Saturday.  Hunter Lindstrom gets the start for the Bulldogs.  If the Bulldogs win, they will face the second-seeded Isanti Redbirds at 5 p.m. on Sunday, August 2.  If the Bulldogs lose the opener, they will play an opponent TBD at 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 8.  More games will follow until the Bulldogs lose two games or qualify for the state tournament. For results and game times, follow the Bulldogs on Twitter at @chisagobulldogs.

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