Posted: 7/17/02

Johnson leads Legion team in Gopher Classic Tournament

Branden Peterson
Sports Intern

Still atop the American Legion baseball standings, the Post 255 squad competed outside their division, in the Gopher Classic Tournament last weekend, July 12-14.

The 48-team field was spread across eight sites. Sent to Bloomington to play, Forest Lake went 3-2 over three days of competition, opening competition against Shakopee.

In an extra inning affair, Ben Zierke took the mound for Forest Lake. He threw well, going five innings, allowing only three hits, and two runs.

Alex Johnson relieved Zierke, pitching three perfect innings, including 6 strikeouts, and was given the win.

Johnson also smacked two hits in the affair, including a triple.

In the second game of the tournament, Forest Lake lost a heartbreaking affair to Hamline 8-7.

Reliably the ace for Post 225, Luke Hagman started on the mound for Forest Lake. The college players of Hamline pelted hits off Hagman like no team had done previously this season.

Hagman pitched 4 1/3 inning, allowing ten hits, and gave up seven runs.

Johnson pitched 2 2/3 innings in relief again, holding Hamline to two hits.

Johnsonís bat went to work again for Forest Lake, as Johnson smashed a home run, and also gained three RBIs.

A tough game against Hamline failed to dishearten Forest Lake. In the third game of the tournament, Forest Lake beat up Thunder Bay in five innings, winning 12-1.

Case Goodyear pitched for Post 225, allowing only one hit in three innings, striking out two, and picking up his second victory of the season.

On fire offensively, Johnson went 4-4 with another RBI. Teammate Lance Overson went 3-3 with two RBIs.

Hot batting continued in Forest Lakeís fourth game, crushing Bloomington Kennedy 11-2 in five innings.

Chris Parent struck out seven in another complete game, allowing four hits, two runs and only one walk. Parentís record also improved to 5-1 on the season.

Johnson went 3-4 offensively, gaining three more RBIs. Mark Miron also went 3-3 with 2 RBIs.

Forest Lakeís fifth game faced Hibbing after outscoring opponents 23-3 over their past two games.

Hibbing had other plans for the squad, as the team prevailed 12-7 and quickly snubbed out Forest Lakeís hopes of advancing in the tournament.

Karl Young pitched four innings for Forest Lake and allowed eight hits.

Forest Lakeís Steve Carlisle went 4-4 with three RBIs, including a pair of triples.

After concluding tournament play, Forest Lake remained 10-2 with a two game lead in the conference. Forest Lakeís overall record moved to 15-5 on the year.

Conference games resume this week, with Forest Lake traveling to Woodbury on Wednesday night, July 17th, and on Sunday, July 21, in Inver Grove Heights.

Forest Lake has locked up a tie in the conference, and with one win will clinch the title.

The district three tournament will begin next Tuesday, July 23.

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