BY HERMAN LENSING
Staff Writer
Maybe it was the time of the game, but Holdingford baseball dominated in its double-header sweep Thursday, May 3 over Eden Valley-Watkins (EVW).
The Huskers posted wins of 7-1 and 8-4 to earn their first wins of the year. The games were played at the MACA in St. Cloud as part of a daylong use of the facility by the Central Minnesota Conference (CMC). The eight schools played a total of eight games on the day. Games were scheduled for six innings. The Holdingford EVW series started at 11:30 a.m.
Holdingford built to a 3-0 third inning lead in the first game, then put the game all but out of reach with a four-run fifth inning. Leading the offensive charge was Andrew Hanson whose 3-for-3 day produced two rbi. He also scored a run himself. Alex Lange, who doubled in the game, scored twice for the Huskers. Also getting hits were Cody Skwira, Austin Lange, Isaiah Folsom, Lane Gerads and Jordan Schmitz.
Austin Lange pitched a complete game to earn the win. He gave up seven hits, but never allowed more than two an inning. The lone run scored was unearned. He also struck out seven.
In the second game Isaiah Folsom earned the win behind another barrage of hits. The Huskers started hitting in the first inning as Skwira, Austin Lange and Hanson picked up hits. Hanson doubled in Lange. He later scored on an outfield error.
The third inning saw the Huskers break open a 3-2 game. Hits by Alex Lange and Hanson, and walks to Austin Lange and Folsom, meant the first four batters reached base and pushed runs across for the Huskers. With one Kyle Grzybowski had an infield hit, Jordan Schmitz walked and Skwira hit a sacrifice fly to build to a 7-2 lead. Holdingford added another run later in the game and did give up two runs, as it took the second game.
Pierz Games
The Huskers came up on the short end of 4-2 and 4-1 scores Monday, April 30, in a CMC doubleheader. The Huskers played well but couldn't get hits at the right time to take the win.
"In the first game we actually out-hit Pierz 7-4 but their hitting was more timely and we did not take advantage of some opportunities to get out of innings with them on base," said head coach Tyler Kamps. "The second game we could not get our bats going. We again had chances to cut into their lead a few times but could not get multiple hits when needed."
In the first game the Huskers had two hits from Austin Lange and others from Huls, Alex Lange, Hanson and Folsom. In the second game Folsom had the team's lone hit. Hanson allowed four hits in taking the loss.
Holdingford 7, EVW 1
EVW 000 001-1 7 2
Holdingford 012 04x-7 9 1
Holdingford: Cody Skwira 1-4, Tyler Huls 0-2 bi sf, Jacob Wolter 0-0, Alex Lange 1-2 2r bb, Austin Lange 1-1 2bb 2r, Andrew Hanson 3-3 r 2bi, Isaiah Folsom 1-2 r sf, Lane Gerads 1-2 d hp, Kyle Grzybowski 0-2, Jordan Schmitz 1-3 r.
Pitching: Austin Lange - W 6i 7h r 0er 2bb 7k.
Holdingford 8, EVW 4
Holdingford 304 001-8 11 0
EVW 200 020-4 10 1
Holdingford: Skwira 2-3 r bi sf, Huls 0-4, Wolter 0-0, Alex Lange 1-4 1, Austin Lange 3-3 2r bi bb, Hanson 2-4 24bb d, Folsom 1-2 r bi 2bb, Gerads 0-3 bi sf, Grzybowksi 2-2 bi 2bb, Schmitz 0-1 bi 3bb. Pitching: Folsom 52-W 10h 4r 4er 3bb 5k. Alex Lange, 1.