Posted: 5/1/02

Full Count: Hags, CP thrive in spotlight

Berk Brown
Sports Editor

Jason Foster was the big man on the mound for Forest Lake last season. A tall and imposing figure, Foster accounted for nine of the teamís 16 wins as the Rangers advanced to the state tournament.

Tucked in the shadow of Foster last season were junior pitchers Luke Hagman and Chris Parent. Each won three games last year and had a modest ERA for a high school pitcher.

Not only have Hagman and Parent escaped Fosterís shadow this season, the pair seem to be basking in the new-found sunlight.

As Forest Lake has bolted to 5-0 mark, a No. 3 ranking by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune and the early lead in a loaded Suburban East Conference, Hagman and Parent have shined.

Hagman is 3-0 while Parent is 2-0 with a save. Each has an ERA under 1.00. Getting a run across the plate on either has been harder than cutting to the front of the line at Krispy Kream.

ìComing into this season, we knew it was our opportunity and we know weíre good pitchers,î Hagman said. ìSometimes you have to say goodbye and bring in the new guys.î

Parent concurred.

ìWe knew we had to fill that spot and we knew we could do it,î he said.

Both are quick to point out that they arenít the only 1-2 punch which the Rangers use to knock out opponents.

They both praised pitching coach Tal Gravelle, catcher Doug Lange and the steady defense behind them.

They also acknowledged the fact they feed off each other.

ìHe drives me a lot,î Hagman said of Parent. ìWhen CP pitches like (he did against Hastings), I want to go out and pitch like that. We kind of drive each other.î

Drive each other in a good way.

ìItís a healthy competition,î Parent said. ìIt makes us want to pitch better and keep getting better.î

The metamorphosis Hagman and Parent have gone through from their junior seasons to now isnít rare.

In fact, itís the same kind of metamorphosis Foster completed just a season ago.

ìThe big thing for Luke and Chris is they each took that step up like Jason did,î Forest Lake coach Brian Raabe said. ìJason was 2-4 as a junior and then went 9-2 as a senior.
ìThis is their senior year now and theyíve been through it all and they know whatís going on and that they needed to step-up and theyíve done that.î

Whatís even more scary than the early success of Hagman and Parent is that the Forest Lake pitching staff is much deeper than just Ace 1 and Ace 2.

Raabe can turn to Case Goodyear or Karl Young on the mound, but hasnít needed to yet this season. Alex Johnson has the ability to be a strong closer, but the Rangers have yet to need him.

Raabe also is the first to point out what a good defense can do for a pitcher. With Hagman and Parent not needing to strike everyone out, it makes their job easier.

ìPitching isnít about striking a lot of people out,î Raabe said. ìItís about throwing the ball over the plate and letting them hit it. Hopefully then we can pick it up and throw it.

ìWeíve been playing some great defense and when you get that kind of pitching and that kind of defense, it can be a deadly combo for the opposing team.î

Opponents may be paying the price, but Forest Lake isnít paying anything ñÝliterally ñÝfor one of its biggest weapons: Gravelle.

Gravelle, one of Forest Lakeís all-time great athletes, is in a non-paying position. He joined Raabeís staff a year ago and has in theory taken over as the pitching and catching coach.

Raabe said when he was putting together his staff he wanted people like Gravelle for a reason.

ìTal has been a huge benefit to us,î Raabe said. ìHeís a quality coach and person and heís come in here and helped us out. I canít say enough about what Tal has done.î

Right now, thereís a lot of people who canít say enough about what the Rangers have done thus far.

Whatís even more impressive is that the team is the first to tell you they havenít done anything yet. They have plans about being the last team still standing in Minnesota this season.

What a huge shadow that would cast.

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