Posted: 4/16/03

Rangers start off season with two wins

Berk Brown
Sports Editor

Two games into the season, the Forest Lake baseball team has coach Brian Raabeís two biggest points of emphasis working: pitching and defense.

The Rangers, 2-0, also have mixed timely hitting into the equation in wins over Hastings and Duluth Central last week.

ìThe pitching has been solid and the team defense has been extremely good,î Raabe said. ìIn our first two games, we didnít have a single error and in high school baseball, thatís a feat in itself. When you have good pitching and good defense, you can win a few ball games.

Weíve been hitting extremely well and getting timely hitting. Weíve been able to put some runs up and if we can do that throughout the year, then we can win a few games.î

On Saturday, Forest Lake had everything go its way in taking a 10-0 win over Duluth Central at Schumacher Field.

Ross Miller pitched four innings to get the win for the Rangers while Ben Zierke added a pair of scoreless innings in relief.

ìRoss pitched very, very well to get the win,î Raabe said. ìAnd Ben looked very strong in relief.î
Ryan Diller had a triple, double and two RBIs to pace the Forest Lake offensive attack.

Forest Lake opened the season with a 7-3 win over Hastings in a Suburban East Conference game on Thursday, April 10, at Schumacher Field.

Karl Young turned in a workmanlike effort on the mound, going all seven innings to earn the win.

Lance Overson and Pete Storm each had three hits for the Rangers while Young helped his own cause by getting two hits.

Getting a pair of early wins should show the Rangers they can be very competitive this season, Raabe said.

ìWhenever you have success, obviously your confidence level rises and when your confidence level rises, youíre more likely to succeed,î he said. ìThey go hand in hand.

ìThat was huge for us to come out and compete at a high level and go 2-0.î

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