SACRED HEART EDGES RED LAKE COUNTY IN A PITCHERS DUAL

The Sacred Heart Eagles take on the Red Lake County Rebels in the second round of the Section 8A Baseball tournament in Ada at 10:00 a.m. today. 

Sacred Heart is the top seed and is 14-5 on the year. Red Lake County is the fourth seed and is 12-9 on the year. The teams met once during the regular season and Sacred Heart won 6-3 on May 19.

FIRST INNING
Sacred Heart’s Parker Erickson’s first two pitches were balls, but he was settled in, struck out the lead-off batter, and forced the next two to pop out to an infielder, and the Rebels were retired in 1-2-3 fashion.
Sacred Heart couldn’t have asked for a better start to the game as Josiah Sundby hit a line drive over the right fielder’s head for a triple. The next batter, Jake Satterlund was hit by a pitch before a pop-out to the pitcher. Ethan Arntson singled to score two runs to give Sacred Heart a 2-0 lead after one inning.

SECOND INNING
Red Lake County’s Carson Erickson recorded the first hit of the game, but he was out trying to steal second base.
Sacred Heart had the bases loaded with two outs after an error, a fielder’s choice and a couple of walks, but the Rebels Will Gieseke got out of the jam forcing the Eagle batter to fly out to right field.

THIRD INNING
Red Lake County was retired in 1-2-3 fashion in the top of the inning.
Sacred Heart loaded the bases again in the third inning with three walks and two outs. The next Sacred Heart batter grounded out to third base, where the Rebel’s Pacey Struthers knocked down the ball and picked it up, and fired the ball over to first base to get out of another jam.

FOURTH INNING
The first two Red Lake Rebel batters were retired before Brock Seeger singled. Seeger’s hit was the second of the game for the Rebels, but the next batter grounded out.
Sacred Heart only sent three batters to the plate in the inning with two strikeouts and a walk. The Sacred Heart batter that walked was later picked off for the third out of the inning, and Sacred Heart took a 2-0 lead into the fifth inning.

FIFTH INNING
The first two Red Lake County batters were retired before Blake Audette reached on an error. The next batter popped out to left field.
Sacred Heart only sent three batters to the plate in the bottom of the inning after a batter walked and was picked off.

SIXTH INNING
Red Lake County’s Pacey Struthers walked with two outs, but the next batter struck out, and the inning was over.
Sacred Heart’s Isaac Sundby walked with one out, but the next two batters were retired, and the Eagles led 2-0 going into the final inning.

SEVENTH INNING
Sacred Heart’s Parker Erickson struck out the first two batters of the inning and got the final out on a ground out to first base to secure a 2-0 victory in an outstanding pitchers dual.

Sacred Heart improves to 15-5 on the year and will play the winner of West Marshall and Ada-Borup-West at 3:00 p.m.
Red Lake County drops to 12-10 on the year and will play the loser of West Marshall and Ada-Borup=West at 5:30 p.m.

COMMENTS FROM COACH PAUL BETHKE OF SACRED HEART ARE BELOW-

COMMENTS FROM COCH CHRIS NELSON OF RED LAKE COUNTY ARE BELOW-

For Sacred Heart-
Josiah Sundby – 1 for 1, walk, hit by pitch, run
Ethan Arntson – 1 for 2, 2 rbi, walk

For Red Lake County-
Brock Seeger – 1 for 3
Carson Erickson – 1 for 3