Posted: 7/2/03

Legion team takes 3rd in tournament

Joe Drennan
Sports Editor

The Forest Lake Legion Post #225 took third place in the tournament it hosted over the weekend.

The Forest Lake team opened up the tournament Friday night when it took on Minneapolis-Hellenic.

The Rangers were trailing 8-1 in the fourth inning, but managed to come within a run and make it an 8-7 game in the fifth inning. In the sixth inning the bats really came alive for the Rangers as they scored six to go ahead 12-8. Minneapolis-Hellenic came back and scored four runs of their own in the seventh to tie the game.

In the seventh inning Pete Storm reached base on a walk for the Rangers, then later stole second base. After a sacrifice bunt, Storm advanced to third. A Steve Carlisle single brought Storm home to win the game.

The Rangers were supposed to play again on Saturday, but the weather did not want to cooperate with those plans.

The Forest Lake team faced Arcade-Phalen in an early, 8:00 a.m. matchup to make up for the rain delay.

Ross Miller pitched a complete game as the Rangers won 7-5. The Rangers trailed 5-3 going into the bottom of the sixth inning, four run rally was all Miller needed to win the game.
Miller helped his own cause when he started the rally with a single. Zach Lund singled also, and Storm brought Lund and Miller home with a single. Storm later scored off a Karl Young single.

Forest Lake played North End in the semi-final game, but could not generate any offense as they lost 6-1. Sam Chaussee drove in the only Ranger run with a double in the losing effort.
Forest Lake then went on to play Ham Lake in the third place game for the tournament. The game versus Ham Lake was also the third game of the day for the Rangers.

The Rangers jumped out to an early three run lead in the top of the first when Carlisle drove in two with a single. After stealing second, Carlisle later came around to score off a Lund single.
ìAfter scoring one run in the game before, it was nice to put up a couple of runs early,î Forest Lake coach Michael Welch said.

The Rangers scored three more in the second with the help of a two run Pete Storm double. The Rangers added insurance with runs in the third and fourth innings.
Karl Young went the distance on the mound, giving up only four hits, one run, and striking out three.

ìIt was a beautiful game, he (Young) was in control the whole game,î Welch said. ìWith the span of games it was helpful to have someone to pitch a complete game.î

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