Rosemount Downs Lakeville

Gotcha! 1st baseman Josh Storm applies the tag in a hotbox rundown as pitcher Jeff Farr looks on.

For once the weather wasn't cold and it wasn't raining. It was a good day for baseball, but great weather conditions did not exactly translate to a great game as the Athletics contributed to their own demise in an 11-6 loss to Rosemount.

In a game that featured as many wild pitches as hits from the Athletics, the Black Sox took advantage of untimely key miscues from the Lakeville defense, along with nine hits of their own, to hand the home team a frustrating loss on Saturday. The Athletics managed six hits on the day, but six wild pitches and three errors were enough to give Rosemount five extra runs in what should have been a much closer ballgame. It was one of those games that got uglier as the innings wore on.

Jeff Farr chucks the rock in the 1st inning as left fielder Eric Watts readies for the pitch.

Jeff Farr started on the hill for Lakeville and was doing well through the first three innings, facing only three batters in each, but it was the 4th inning where the troubles began. The Black Sox sent nine men to the plate, scoring five runs on just two hits, but aided by two wild pitches and an infield error.

Taking one for the team. John Degerness braces to be nailed by a pitch.

In the bottom of the 4th the Athletics were quickly down two outs with a fly-out and a ground-out, before designated hitter Derek Hahn walked on a full count. Right fielder John Degerness was then hit by a pitch, followed by 3rd baseman Collin Baker who walked on four straight pitches. Left fielder Eric Watts came to the plate and ripped the first pitch he saw down the 3rd base line to score both Hahn and Deggerness, pulling Lakeville within three. An ensuing groundout stranded Baker and Watts, leaving the score at 5-2.

Eric Watts gets set to drive in a couple runs with the first of two hits on the afternoon.

The next inning Farr returned to the mound and only gave up just one hit, but a passed ball and two infield errors were once again costly for the Athletics as Rosemount plated two more runs to once again lead by five. Farr scattered four hits through five innings of work with one strike out and four walks.

Lefty Andrew Yetzer came on in relief in the 6th, facing just four batters in a scoreless inning for both teams. The 7th would become another ugly inning for Lakeville. Yetzer gave up two hits in the inning, but two wild pitches and a hit batter were all Rosemount needed for two more runs, taking a 9-2 lead.

The Athletics fought back in the bottom of the 7th, but once again with two outs on the board. First baseman Josh Storm walked before catcher Kevin George pounded a double to the left center gap. Centerfielder Mark Berger hit an RBI single up the middle to score Storm from 3rd, moving George to 3rd base in the process. Derek Hahn then drove in George with a bouncer that the 1st baseman misplayed for an error. A following groundout left Hahn stranded, but helped the Athletics to shrink the lead to 9-4.

Kevin George strokes a double to the left center gap in the 7th inning.

Yetzer retired the top of the order for the Black Sox in 1-2-3 fashion in the top of the 8th before Lakeville fought back for two more runs. Baker was hit by a pitch before Watts collected his second hit of the day with a high chopper over the 3rd baseman's head. After a following fly-out to center, substitute 2nd baseman Justin Hahn received a wild pitch, moving both runners up before scoring Baker on a 6-3 ground-out, with Watts taking 3rd. Storm walked on a full count before George reached on an error with a misplayed hopper to the 2nd baseman, scoring Watts as a result. Berger then smoked his second hit of the day with a well hit shot into left field, but Storm was thrown out in a collision at home on a well thrown ball by the left fielder to end the inning. Suddenly it was a ballgame again as the Athletics pulled with three at 9-6.

Titled, "A Storm comin." (or damn this is gonna hurt.) Josh Storm looking for a collision at home.

The umpire makes the call at the plate on Josh Storm as Derek Hahn and Doug Johnson look on.

Rosemount answered the call in the 9th with two more runs in the inning, but lost a chance at a third run as Watts returned the Black Sox defensive feat with an assist of his own for Lakeville by throwing out a runner at the plate with a perfect throw on the fly from down the left field line. The score was 11-6 Rosemount.

Mark Berger pounds the ball in the 8th inning for his second hit of the day.

In the bottom of the 9th the Athletics once again started another two out rally as Baker and Watts both reached on consecutive errors by the Rosemount 3rd baseman, but a following 1-3 tapper back to the mound ended the comeback and the game for Lakeville.

Defensive plays of the game came from... shortstop Max Shower with a U6-3 double-play in the 2nd inning, a nice diving catch from centerfielder Mark Berger in the 3rd inning, and an outfield assist from left fielder Eric Watts who threw a runner out at home plate off a double down the line in the 8th inning.

Rosemount out-hit Lakeville nine hits to six on the day.

Collecting hits for the Athletics were...

• Eric Watts 2 for 5, 2 RBI, R, FC, OBE
• Mark Berger 2 for 5, RBI, OBE
• Josh Storm 1 for 3, R, 2 BB
• Kevin George 1 for 5, 2B, RBI

Lakeville is off to its slowest start in years but has yet to enter a game with its full line up. Rain-outs have also played a part in the slow start, with the team finding it hard to get its hitting timing. Opposing pitchers are ahead of the home bats so far, but a week with five upcoming games in eight days should hopefully help the hitting. The team has just come off a nine day hiatus with no games, one of their longest yet.

The team is 0 - 5 in total games so far, and 0 - 2 in league play.

The Athletics next game is tomorrow, Sunday, June 5 at home at 5:00 at Lakeville South against the Westside Bombers.