Legion team opens season

The 2012 Maple Lake American Legion baseball season kicked off on Thursday, June 7, when the boys faced off against Mound at home for a tough opener. Mound was up to bat first with Maple Lake taking the field. Mound started the inning off with a lead-off double, followed by a sacrifice out and a strikeout. The fourth batter hit a single, which sent in two runs. After drawing another walk, Mound hit a ground ball, resulting in the third out. Maple Lake took to the batter’s box and hoped to make up the 0-2 deficit right away. Unfortunately, they didn’t have much luck as their at bat consisted of ground-outs, fly balls and strikeouts. In the second inning, Mound started off with a fly-out to the Maple Lake catcher, Derek Rachel. Two errors in a row allowed two Mound runners to reach the bases and a base hit from the number four batter brought in both runners. A strikeout brought Maple Lake back on the offense. Donnie Mavencamp started Maple Lake off with a base hit, followed by a double hit by Cal Redemske. Bosten Fieldseth hit a sacrifice out to advance the runners and the inning with two strikeouts and one Maple Lake run. Mound’s number six batter reached first through a base hit and was able to advance when his teammate hit a hard ball to the shortstop, causing an error. Maple Lake then composed themselves and threw out three hitters. However, two more Mound runs were allowed. As for Maple Lake, Rachel and Jake Johnson attempted to get things started with two outs by hitting a single and then a double, but were unsuccessful as a fly ball closed the third inning. The fourth inning started with an error on Maple Lake’s short-stop and a walk. After back-to-back doubles, Maple Lake was able to make the third out but allowed three more runs. In the batter’s box, Maple Lake was unable to reach the bases as three ground-outs sent them back in the field. A triple from Mound’s number two hitter started off the fifth inning. A ground-out to Maple Lake’s third baseman was followed with a base hit, which brought in the leading runner. Another ground ball hit to the third baseman resulted in a double play and the third out. Maple Lake’s at bat was marked with fly-outs, two walks, a base hit from Johnson and a ground-out. The sixth and seventh innings were uneventful as neither team was able to score. In the top of the eighth, however, Mound was able to score a run off of a base hit and a Maple Lake error. Unfortunately, Maple Lake’s final attempt at a comeback was a quick one as the first three batters were called out. After battling through eight inings, the game ended with a score of 1-11 in favor of Mound.

Maple Lake vs. Monticello
After a tough loss in the season opener, Maple Lake hosted Monticello on Monday, June 11. The game got off to a slow start with Monticello up to bat first. With no runs scored, Monticello turned it over to the Irish who struggled to reach the bases. Wild pitches and walks allowed Monticello batters to make their way around the bases. A base hit and a scarifice out allowed three runs to score by the time the third out was made. Cal Redemske started Maple Lake off with a base hit. Monticello’s pitcher retired the next batter. Zach Johnson took to the batter’s box next and drew a walk, followed by a base hit from Landon Caughey. However, Maple Lake was unable to bring in any runners as a line drive to Monticello’s shortstop resulted in a double play and ended the inning.
More information and stats appear in this week’s Messenger.

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