Posted: 6/9/04

Rangers lose in first round of 7AAA play

Joe Drennan
Sports Editor

Forest Lake High School baseball coach Brian Raabe thought the Rangers were going to be in pretty good shape after scoring three runs off Cambridge-Isantiís number one pitcher in the first inning of a section 7AAA game last Tuesday, unfortunately he was wrong.

After jumping out to an early 3-0 lead after the first half of an inning, Cambridge-Isanti battled back with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. For the rest of the game Zach Guttormson of the Rangers and the Cambridge-Isanti ace engaged in a pitchers duel.

ìZach did a very nice job on the mound and kept us in the game,î Raabe said. ìIt was just one of those things where somebody had to score.î

With two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning and the game tied 4-4, Kyle Johnson of Cambridge-Isanti scored the game-winning run with a double off Paul Miron.

ìIt was a really good game,î Raabe said. ìWe had our chances to win and we didnít execute a couple of things. We had our chances to win but in the end they [Cambridge-Isanti] came through.î

The 5-4 loss to Cambridge-Isanti ended the Rangers season with a final record of 8-13.

ìWe had a successful season in the sense that the boys worked very hard and they competed hard,î Raabe said. ìIt was an enjoyable season in that way.î

The sophomore team finished the season 15-4 and one of the junior high teams finished the season with only one loss.

ìWe have a nucleus of players who can play good varsity baseball,î Raabe said. ìWe might have some talent coming up and itís our job as coaches to put these kids in a position to succeed and itís their job to succeed.î

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