Grand Slam By Farr Leads Athletics To 15-5 Win

"May the fours be with you." Jeff Farr (#44) is greeted at home by teammates after his grand slam.

The Athletics found themselves down by four runs after just three innings in a road trip to White Bear Lake on Monday night, managing just one hit up to that point, but the team pounded out ten runs in the next two innings for a 15-5 come from behind victory over the Metro Knights.

Veteran all-star ace Jake Hauck got the starting nod on the hill and pitched very well, blanking the Knights for the first two innings of play, but he got into trouble in the 3rd, giving up three hits in the inning, along with a hit batter, as the White Bear team put up four runs in the inning. That would be the only rough spot in the game for Hauck as he immediately regained his composure and shut down the Knights offense, striking out nine in only five innings of work. Hauck allowed only one hit after the 3rd, scattering just four in his five innings of work as he picked up the win for his efforts.

Jake Hauck handcuffed the Knights on four hits through five inning of work.

The story of the night was first baseman Jeff Farr who came to the plate in the top of the 4th with the bases loaded and put a helluva swing on a 1-1 offering, depositing it deep into the trees over the left field fence for a grand slam to tie the game at four. Third baseman Kevin George led off the inning with a walk on four straight pitches. Catcher Derek Hahn then followed by grinding out a solid at bat to receive a full count walk. Centerfielder Mark Berger stroked a single past 3rd base to load the bags for Lakeville before Farr stepped to the plate to crush the game tying grand slam. There was no doubt right off the bat as Farr hit it very far. A subsequent groundout, pop-up, and a strikeout ended the inning with the score knotted at 4-4.

The Knights had trouble on the mound from that point on. In the 5th inning they trotted out three pitchers, putting the first four Lakeville hitters on base. They walked designated hitter Eddie Golam and shortstop Trent Larson, before hitting Kevin George and Derek Hahn. The Knights struck out two batters, but then walked four straight batters, right fielder John Degerness, left fielder Eric Watts, 2nd baseman Nick Daniels, and then Trent Larson again. An ensuing pop-up in foul territory ended the inning, but not before six Athletics touched home plate, Golam, Larson, George, Hahn, Degerness and Watts.

Coach Doug Johnson talks it over with Kevin George at 3rd base.

The 6th was a scoreless inning, but both teams jumped back on the board in the 7th. After a lead off groundout, Lakeville cranked up the scoring machine once again. Eddie Golam hit a single to left-center. Trent Larson pounded a stand-up double to left. Kevin George then walked before Derek Hahn scorched a single to right, scoring Golam. Mark Berger picked up his third hit of the night with a hopper down the 3rd baseline which plated both Larson and George. Jeff Farr popped up for the second out. John Degerness then smacked a double to left to score both Hahn and Berger. Eric Watts flew out to center to end the inning, but Lakeville held a commanding 15-4 lead at that point.

Mark Berger had three hits against the Knights.

The Athletics needed to hold the Knights to just one run to earn the ten-run rule. Trent Larson headed back to the mound and did just that, giving up two singles and a walk, allowing just one run while stranding two Metro base runners to clinch the early victory.

The Athletics shake hands with the Knights after the game.

The Athletics out-hit the Knights ten to six on the evening.

Collecting hits for Lakeville were...

• Mark Berger 3 for 4, 2 RBI, 2 R, BB
• Trent Larson 2 for 4, BB, 2 R, RBI
• John Degerness, 1 for 3, 2B, BB, R, 3 RBI
• Eddie Golom 1 for 2, 2 BB, HBP, 2 R, RBI
• Kevin George 1 for 2, 2 BB, HBP, 3 R
• Derek Hahn 1 for 2, 2 BB, 3 R, 2 RBI, SB
• Jeff Farr, 1 for 5, Grand Slam, 4 RBI

The Athletics next game is Saturday at home at Lakeville South at 5pm versus Burnsville.