Posted: 8/9/06
Brewers win 1st game in region play; St. Francis is on deck
Glen Strandberg
Sports Editor
Going into the Region 1C Baseball Tournament in Hinckley, the Forest Lake Brewers were the sixth and lowest seed, but like they cliche says, They donít play the games on paper.
After losing to a strong St. Francis team, 9-5, on Wednesday, August 3, to determine the top seed from the Metro Minny Conference, Forest Lake had the privilege of facing host Hinckley on Sunday afternoon.
In hindsight, with Chris Parent pitching for the Brewers, the Hinckley Knights may have wished for a different match-up. Because if Forest Lake can generate just a little offense when Parent is on the mound, he will usually keep the game within reach. This time he practically had it in a bear hug, and the Brewers won, 8-3.
Parentís pitching line went a little something like this: one earned run, and that didnít come until the bottom of the sixth inning when Forest Lake was already up 4-0, and eight strikeouts.
Good Knight, Hinckley.
The Brewers offense was led by Kyle Eaton and Mark Miron, who each had three hits.
A SAINTS COMEBACK
While Sundayís game turned out in favor of the good guys, there was a time in Thursdayís contest with St. Francis where Forest Lake looked like they would enter region play with a much higher seed.
The Brewers pounced on the Saints by scoring once in the first inning, and four in the third, to take a healthy 5-run lead. St. Francis had seen enough and made a pitching change, and suddenly the Forest Lake hitting dried up.
The Saints went on to score nine straight, with seven of those coming on three home runs (two, 2-run HRs, and one, 3-run homer), and took control of the game.
Brian Welch took the loss for the Brewers despite striking out a season-best 12 hitters. He also contributed two hits and an RBI on offense.
ìYou have to tip your hat to St. Francis,î coach Adam Gallatin noted afterward. ìThey have six home runs against us this year in two games. The rest of the season we only gave up five. They can kill the ball.î
Speaking of the ball-killers, Forest Lake played at St. Francis again on Tuesday, August 8.
The state tournament begins on Saturday, August 19.
Forest Lake Times
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