Posted: 6/8/05
Rangers lose extra inning heartbreaker
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Joe Drennan
Sports Editor
The 2005 season came to a screeching halt last Thursday night for the Forest Lake High School baseball team when fourth seeded Anoka upset the number one seeded Rangers in extra innings in the second round of section play.
ìThe game of baseball is a game of execution and if we execute the fundamentals weíll win the game,î Rangers head coach Brian Raabe said. ìIt was kind of an odd game for us because we were out hit and it was the first game all year where we had three errors in a game. We had opportunities but we didnít capitalize on them.î
Anoka got on the board first with two runs in the top of the first inning, but the Rangers evened the score in the bottom half of the inning thanks to some timely hit singles that scored Bobby Hager and Jed Hanson.
Anoka got two more runs off Rangers pitcher Zack Guttormson in the top of the fourth inning. Guttormson struck out the first two batters but then gave up three consecutive singles to allow two runs across.
Each team added a run in the fifth inning to make the score 5-3. The Rangers looked poised to get more than one run across the plate in the fifth inning after Hager reached on a walk with one out. Jed Hanson moved Hager to second on a single, then Jeff Brooks scored Hager.
With one out and runners on first and second, it looked certain that the Rangers would get at least one more run but Brooks was picked off at first in a close call. Patrick Fogerty was at the plate and was then hit in the head with a pitch, but the umpire ruled he was crowding the plate and did not make an attempt to get out of the way of the pitch.
ìThe calls are the calls,î Raabe said. ìI tell the players you canít blame the umpires, you have to take charge of the situation and not let the umpires have an impact. There were some questionable calls, but when it comes down to it the umpire is always right and it certainly made the game more exciting.î
Fogerty ended up striking out to end the Rangers threat.
Down two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, Andrew Pooch led things off for the Rangers with a walk then Hager hit a single to put runners on first and second. Hanson was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. Jeff Brooks hit a single that scored Pooch and Hager, tying the game.
With one out and the bases loaded Matt Kreitlow tried to bunt a suicide squeeze. The ball went straight up and was caught by the Anoka catcher. Because the hit and run was on, Hanson was half way to home plate when the ball was caught and was caught in a run-down. Hanson was tagged out as he tried to slide into home.
ìThe pitch was there but the ball popped up,î Raabe said. ìEverybody points to that play, but that isnít why we lost and if I had the chance to go back and do it over Iíd do it the same way. If the bunt is down we score the run and we win the game.î
With the score tied after seven innings, the game was headed to extra innings.
Anoka was able to score one run in the top of the eighth inning, putting the pressure on the Rangers to score at least one run. The Rangers bats were not alive in the eighth inning though as the Anoka pitcher was able to retire the Rangers without allowing a run and giving Anoka a 6-5 victory.
ìEven though the game didnít come out the way we hoped, it was an exciting game,î Raabe said. ìThere was a lot of frustration on the team after the game, but that was because the guys knew we had a good team. I reminded them though that when all things are said and done itís only a game.î
The loss ended the Rangers season, giving them an overall record of 16-5.
ìThis one hurt a little bit in the fact that we had such a great group of young men and a great baseball team,î Raabe said. ìI told the team that we canít let this one game detract from the season we had.î
Elk River
Last Tuesday the Rangers hosted Elk River in the first round of section play. Rangers pitcher Jed Hanson had little trouble with Elk River as he struck out 11 in a complete game 6-0 victory.
ìJed pitched well and he actually didnít have his ëAí game, but they scored zero runs so you canít argue,î Raabe said.
Offensively the Rangers got help from virtually everybody on the roster. Fogerty was 3-2 with three RBIs, Kreitlow 2-2 with two RBIs.
ìWe faced one of the better pitchers weíve seen all season actually but our hitting was on and we were able to score six runs,î Raabe said.
In both the Elk River and Anoka games The Ballpark at Schumacher Field was once again packed with baseball fans. Raabe thanks all those who not only came out to support the team, but the parents who helped in attracting the attendance.
ìWe hope to continue that next year and for years to come,î Raabe said.
Forest Lake Times
P.O. Box 218
880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
Fax 651-464-4605