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CHISAGO LAKES

Chisago Lakes 13, Zimmerman 3 (5 innings)

The Wildcats pounded out 12 hits and took advantage of six walks as they silenced the Zimmerman Thunder 13-3 Tuesday, April 23 at Pat Collins Field at Chisago Lakes High School, in a game shortened to five innings because of the ten-run rule.

Trailing 1-0 entering the bottom of the second inning, the Wildcats exploded for nine runs to put the game out of reach.  Big hits in the inning were two-run singles by Chuck Gilman and Joe Couwenhoven and a two-run triple by Jack Bjelland.  Lucas Weinzetl had a two-run single in the third inning.  And with the Wildcats leading 12-3 with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth inning, Kellen Meissner reached on an error.  Ian Larsen scored on the play to end the game.

River Bemlott started for the Wildcats.  In 2 1/3 innings, he allowed three runs (one earned) on two hits, walked two and struck out two.  Lucas Weinzetl picked up the win in 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.  He allowed two hits, walked two and struck out six.

Chisago Lakes 10, Cloquet 9

With the game tied 9-9, Dominic Torrez single with no outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning to drive in Ian Larsen, giving the Wildcats a 10-9 win over the Cloquet Lumberjacks in a wild game Wednesday, April 24 at Pat Collins Field at Chisago Lakes High School.

With the Wildcats trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the second, Caden Gibbs walked with one out and the bases loaded to get the Wildcats on the scoreboard.  Jadon Greene followed with a sacrifice fly to center field, tying the score at 2-2.  Cloquet scored to go up 3-2 in the top of the fourth, but Ian Larsen scored on an errant pickoff attempt in the bottom of the inning to tie the game back up at 3-3.  The Wildcats took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the fifth when Lucas Weinzetl hit a sacrifice fly with no outs and the bases loaded, scoring Torrez.

The Lumberjacks scored two runs in the top of the sixth to go back on top 5-4.  In the bottom of the inning, Gibbs walked, advanced to second on an error and scored on a single up the middle by Greene to tie the game at 5-5.  Greene went to second on the throw home and scored on a single to left by Torrez to put the Wildcats up 6-5.  Jack Bjelland singled to left to move Torrez to second and, one out later, Weinzetl singled up the middle to score Torrez, making it 7-5.

With two outs and a runner on first in the top of the seventh, a ground ball looked like it would end the game.  But an error by first baseman Andrew Mandell kept the inning alive, with runners at first and third.  A hit batter loaded the bases.  A single to left scored two runs, tying the game at 7-7 and leaving runners on first and third.  The runner on first stole second, and both baserunners scored on a single to left, giving Cloquet a 9-7 lead going into the bottom of the seventh.

Mandell singled to lead off the bottom of the seventh.  Cole Stilp reached on an error.  Larsen lined a single to left to drive in Mandell, cutting the Cloquet lead to 9-8.  Gibbs followed with a single to left to score Stilp, tying the game at 9-9.  After Greene singled to load the bases, Torrez came up with the big hit that ended the game with smiles on the faces of the Wildcat players, coaches, and fans.

Xavier Taylor started for the Wildcats.  In 5 2/3 innings, he allowed four runs (three earned) on two hits, walked five and stuck out five.  Stilp picked up the win in 1 1/3 innings of relief.  He allowed five runs, only one of which was earned, on four hits, walked one and struck out one.

St. Francis 4, Chisago Lakes 3

The Wildcats, playing their third home game in three days, trailed St. Francis 4-0 going into the bottom of the fifth inning.  Their comeback attempt fell just short as they lost to the Fighting Saints 4-3 on Thursday, April 25 at Pat Collins Field at Chisago Lake High School.

In the bottom of the fifth, Andrew Mandell led off with a single to center, moved to second on a passed ball and scored on a double to left by Chuck Gilman.  Gilman advanced to third on a groundout by Jadon Greene and scored on a sacrifice fly by Caden Gibbs to cut the St. Francis lead to 4-2.  With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Dominic Torrez singled.   Ian Larsen followed with a single to right.  The ball got past the right fielder and Torrez came all the way around to score, with Larsen advancing to second.  But Mandell grounded out to end the inning, keeping the score at 4-3.  In the bottom of the seventh, Jadon Greene walked with one out, but Gibbs and Xavier Taylor flew out to end the game.

River Bemlott started and took the loss for the Wildcats.  In 3 2/3 innings, he allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits, walked four and struck out two.  Chuck Gilman gave the Wildcats a chance to win in his scoreless relief stint.  He allowed just three hits, walked one and struck out one.

Baseball Banter

Tomorrow, the Wildcats will head across the border into Wisconsin to play the Osceola Chieftains at Osceola Middle School starting at 4:30 p.m.  On Monday, the Wildcats will welcome the Becker Bulldogs to Pat Collins Field at Chisago Lakes High School, with an early start f 3:30 p.m.  And on Tuesday, May 7, the Wildcats will clash with the North Branch Vikings for the second time this season, with the teams slated to play at Pat Collins Field at 4:30 p.m.  The Vikings beat the Wildcats 1-0 at North Branch on April 15.

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