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Coon Rapids 5, Chisago Lakes 0

The Coon Rapids Cardinals broke open a close game with four runs in the bottom of the sixth and shut out the Wildcats 5-0 Wednesday, May 22 at Coon Rapids High School.  Coon Rapids pitching held the Wildcats to just three hits and six baserunners overall.

Wildcat starter Zander Bleymeyer was solid through the first five innings, allowing just one run.  In the top of the sixth, Joseph Couwenhoven led off with a single.  Dom Torrez sacrificed him to second, and Xavier Taylor was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second.  But Kellen Meissner was out on a foul popup and Andrew Mandell grounded out to end the Wildcats’ best threat to score in the game.  Things fell apart for the Wildcats in the bottom of the sixth.  The first batter singled, and the second batter attempted a sacrifice bunt and reached on an error by Bleymeyer.  Both runners move up on a wild pitch, followed by a single that scored both runners.  After a pop out, Bleymeyer hit the next batter.  Both runners moved up on a passed ball and scored on a single to make the score 5-0.  Chuck Gilman came in to relieve Bleymeyer and got the last two batters out, but the damage was done.   Gilman was hit by a pitch with one out in the top of the seventh and River Bemlott walked with two outs, but Meissner struck out to end the game.

Princeton 12, Chisago Lakes 1

Jack Bjelland, in his first game back after a severe face injury caused by a pitched ball, singled to drive in the only run in an otherwise forgettable 12-1 loss to the Princeton Tigers Thursday, May 23 at Chisago Lakes High School, in the Wildcats’ final game before the start of Section 7AAA playoffs.  The Wildcats managed just three hits for the second game in a row.  The Tigers had eight hits, and were helped along by ten walks and three errors from the Wildcats.  Princeton scored runs in each of the last five innings of the game, including a six-run fourth that essentially put the game out of reach.

Duluth Denfeld 6, Chisago Lakes 2

The Wildcats lost to the Duluth Denfeld Hunters 6-2 in the opening game of the Section 7AAA playoffs this past Tuesday in Duluth.  Game details were not available due to a technical glitch, and will be provided in time for next week’s press.

Section Preview

Losing the first game of the Section 7AAA tournament did provide a silver lining for the sixth-seeded Wildcats:  they will host the seventh-seeded Cloquet Lumberjacks, who also lost their playoff opener.  Today’s game at Chisago Lakes High School is schedule to get underway at 3:30 pm.  If the Wildcats win, they will head north to play a higher seeded team on Saturday, June 1.  If the Wildcats somehow get on a roll and win on Saturday, their pitchers will have a chance to rest before the section elimination bracket finals take place at Chisago Lakes High School next Tuesday, June 4 and the section finals, also at Chisago Lakes, take place on June 5.  

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