Posted: 6/4/03

Chisago Lakes rallies in seventh, beats FL 5-4 in baseball playoffs

Joe Drennan
Sports Editor
The Forest Lake baseball team was looking to advance to the 7AAA Final Four Thursday night when they faced Chisago Lakes in the sub-sectionals.
The game was scoreless until the bottom half of the fourth when Chisago Lake came to the plate. Wildcat Danny Reed started the inning off by reaching base on a walk. The next wildcat batter, Kevin Schneider, hit a bouncing ball to Forest Lake shortstop Pete Storm who threw an errant ball over first-baseman Steve Carlile. Carlile then threw another errant ball as he tried catching the advancing base runners who eventually ended up on second and third. Thomas Moody then came to the plate for Chisago Lakes and lined a single to left field scoring the two base runners.
ìAny time you get down one or two runs, its not that big of a deal,î said Forest Lake coach Brian Raabe.
Forest Lake answered back in the top half of the fifth inning. After Ross Miller took a sacrifice bunt to advance two base-runners to second and third, Brian Welch came in to pinch-hit. Welch had a bouncing grounder to the short-stop for what looked like a 6-3 ground out, but ran into the Chisago Lakes first baseman knocking the ball loose. The two base runners came around to score and tie the game with only one out.
ìI was very encouraged when we got back to even,î Raabe said. ìIt was a very good situation for us.î
Carlise was the next Ranger batter, but he couldnít keep the inning alive as he hit into an inning ending 6-4-3 double play.
Chisago Lakes tried to answer back in the bottom half of the fifth, but Forest Lake relief pitcher Welch struck out Mike Goly and Kevin Schneider tipped a third strike into the catchers mitt.
Forest Lake struck again in the sixth inning.
Storm started the inning off with a single to right field. Karl Young came to the plate next and advanced Storm to third with a single to center. Lance Overson then hit into a fielders choice which led to Overson being on first, and Yong out at second.
With runners on the corners Joel Lawrence came to the plate. In an attempt to keep runners close to the bags, Chisago Lakes relief pitcher Chip Bemlott threw 2 quick pick off balls to the first-baseman. On a third attempt, Bemlott overthrew the first-baseman allowing Johnson to score from third, and Overson to advance to third.
With Lawrence still at the plate and a 0-1 count, Bemlott fired a high strike past Lawrence and the catcher. Overson came in from third to score and give the Rangers a 4-2 lead.
Chisago Lakes was unable to answer back in the bottom half of the sixth inning, and Forest Lakes batters were retired 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh.
ìI felt very good going into the bottom of the 7th,î said Raabe. ìI had the pitcher I wanted on the mound and the players I wanted in the field.î
Down by two and their season looking all but over, Chisago Lakes came to bat. Jake Berger started things off with a single up the middle. Jimmy Achartz was down in the count with three balls and no strikes when he was hit by a pitch.
Goly was the next wildcat batter who came to the plate with hopes of keeping the season alive. With patience, Goly found himself on first with a walk, loading the bases.
With the bases loaded and no outs, down 4-2, Danny Reed came to the plate for Chisago Lakes.
Reed got the pitch he wanted and sent it all the way back to the fence, driving in three for a triple, and giving Chisago Lakes a dramatic 5-4 win over Forest Lake.
ìObviously a tough loss, but it was a well played game on both sides,î Rabbe said of the loss. ìWe came out and played good baseball. We just happend to lose.î

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