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by CHUCK FITZER

North Branch 5, Chisago Lakes 0

The Bulldog baseball season ended abruptly and unexpectedly when they lost to the North Branch Nighthawks 5-1 in the elimination bracket of the MBA District 1B playoffs Saturday, August 2 at Brennan Field in Hinckley.  The Nighthawks went on to beat the Sauk Rapids Cyclones 12-7 on Sunday and will continue their quest for their first state tournament berth against the Princeton Panthers next Saturday, August 9 at 11 a.m. at Brennan Field.

The Nighthawks’ Lucas Goggin baffled the Bulldog hitters for the second time this season in earning the win.  In seven innings, he allowed no runs on two hits, walked three and had no strikeouts.  Bo Pederson pitched the last two innings for North Branch.  He allowed one unearned run on one hit, walked one and stuck out one.  Redd Marquardt started for the Bulldogs.  He allowed four runs – two earned – on six hits, walked four and struck out seven.  Beau Fandel finished up for the Bulldogs and was his usual dominant self.  He allowed one unearned run on no hits, walked one and struck out four.

A lack of hitting, three untimely errors, and some bad luck doomed the Bulldogs.

Brendan Hemr was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the first  He attempted to steal second but was caught stealing for the first time all season on a perfect throw from Nighthawk catcher Tanner Helin.   In the bottom of the third, Reed Marquardt walked with one out.  One out later, Alex Wilkey stepped to the plate and blasted a ball high and deep to right, down the line.  The ball curved foul by about two feet at the end, and instead of a home run it was just a long strike.  Wilkey lined out two pitches later to end the inning.

Leading off the bottom of the fifth, Tanner Marquardt lined a ball toward the corner in right field.  Nick Pilz made a diving attempt at the ball, and it ticked off his glove.  Marquardt slid into second with a double.  But Marquardt was stranded at second as Brendan Hemr, Reed Marquardt, and Fandel went down in order.  Noah Thorsen reached on an infield hit to third to lead off the top of the sixth.  Pilz hit a ground ball to Fandel at short that looked like it would turn into a double play.  But Fandel’s throw sailed past second baseman Ty Escobedo, and both runners were safe.  After a walk to Noah Wolfe loaded the bases, Karr Fager singled to right to drive in two runs.  Charlie Linder singled to reload the bases.  Wolfe scored on a wild pitch.  Helin walked to reload the bases.  With the Bulldog infield in, Clint Mattson hit a hard grounder that appeared headed for right field.  But Escobedo dived for the ball, snared it and fired home to nip Fager by a half step.  Jimmy Skroch popped out and Andrew Orf lined to center to end the inning.

In the bottom of the sixth, Wilkey walked, and Tyler Stilp lined a single to left to put runners on first and second with no outs.  But Escobedo popped out and Tom Fitzer grounded into a double play to end the inning.  With Fandel pitching, the Nighthawks added to their lead in the top of the seventh.  Thorsen led off with a single to right.  Pilz hit a ground ball to shortstop Reed Marquardt.  Marquardt’s throw sailed past Escobedo, so instead of two outs, there were runners on second and third with no outs.  Wolfe struck out.  Fager hit a ground ball to short, but Marquardt couldn’t handle it.  A run scored and the Nighthawks still had runners on first and third.  With a 1-1 count on Linder, Pilz took off from third.  Linder laid down a perfect bunt, and Pilz scored standing up to increase the Nighthawk lead to 5-0.

Tanner Marquardt walked with one out in the bottom of the seventh.  Both Hemr and Reed Marquardt hit towering shots that looked like home runs off the bat, but the heavy air kept the balls in the ballpark and center fielder Clint Mattson caught both of them with his back just inches from the wall.  The Bulldogs still trailed 5-0 going into the bottom of the ninth.  Escobedo led off with a line single to left, just the Bulldogs’ third hit of the game.  Fitzer flew out to deep center.  Nick Brown struck out for the second out.  Tanner Marqardt walked.  Hemer hit a high pop fly into short right.  Second baseman Fager dropped it, and Escobedo scored to cut the Nighthawk lead to 5-1.  But Reed Marquardt flew out to left to end the game and the Bulldogs’ season.

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