Athletics Jump Bandits With 16-8 Win

John Degerness had 4 hits, 4 RBI and 3 runs scored to lead the offensive attack.

The hit parade continued for Lakeville as they once again out-hit the opposition for the second night in a row. The Athletics' bats have hit into double digits on consecutive nights, this time with 20 hits in a 16-8 win over the Eagan Bandits. The old saying that "hitting is contagious" appears to be holding true as the Athletics have caught the bug and are burning up with hit fever.

Lakeville jumped Eagan's starting pitcher right from the start, collecting four hits and four runs in the 1st inning. Centerfielder Mark Berger got the ball rolling in the top of the 1st with a single over 3rd base that stayed inside the foul line. Shortstop Trent Larson popped out to the 1st baseman for out number one. First baseman Josh Storm hit into a fielder's choice to force Berger at 2nd. Third baseman Kevin George took a full count walk before right fielder John Degerness  hit a single into right-center, scoring Storm on the hit. The centerfielder tried to get Storm at the plate, but the ball rolled away from the catcher and Kevin George alertly barreled for home and slid in under the tag, with Degerness moving to 2nd. Designated hitter Jeff Farr stayed hot by pounding a double to the left-center fence, scoring Degerness. Second baseman Justin Hahn bounced a hard to handle hit by the 3rd baseman which scored Farr for a 4-0 Lakeville lead. Catcher Brent Johnson hit an 0-2 pitch well, but right at the right fielder for the third out.

Kevin George made a great read to beat the throw, sliding safely at home plate in the 1st inning.

Veteran Jake Hauck was on the mound for the Athletics. He gave up two hits for one run in the bottom of the 1st as Eagan cut the Lakeville lead to 4-1.

The 2nd inning was scoreless for both teams. Eddie Golom took over at shortstop in the inning for Trent Larson who had a sore arm from pitching the night before.

Kevin George led off the 3rd with a walk before John Degerness collected the second of four hits on the night with a single to right. Jeff Farr hit a bouncer to the shortstop who rushed the throw and overthrew 1st, allowing George to score on the play. Justin Hahn picked up his second hit with a single to the right of short, scoring Degerness. Brent Johnson flew out in foul territory to the 1st baseman. Left fielder Eric Watts pounded a hard hit ball to left for a sac-fly to score Farr, giving Lakeville a 7-1 lead. Mark Berger hit a liner to 2nd to end the inning for the Athletics.

Jake Hauck gets set to wind and fire in the 6th inning.

Jake Hauck sailed through the 3rd and 4th innings, blanking the Bandits for no hits or runs. Hauck recorded three strikeouts.

Lakeville went back to work in the 5th with John Degerness collecting his 3rd hit. Jeff Farr then stroked a double down the left field line. One out later Brent Johnson smacked a double to left to score both Degerness and Farr. Two more outs ended the inning, but with Lakeville holding a 9-1 lead.

The Bandits fought back in the 4th with their biggest rally of the game, touching Hauck for four hits and four runs to cut the Lakeville lead to 9-5.

The Athletics got a run back in the 6th as Eddie Golom led off the inning with a double over the centerfielder's head. Josh Storm hit a single up the middle to score Golom, giving the team a 10-5 lead. A strikeout and 6-4-3 double-play ended the inning.

Eddie Golom gets his lead at 2nd after a 6th inning double.

Eagan battled back once again with three runs on two hits and an error, cutting the Athletics lead to 10-8. It would be the closest that the Bandits would get.

Lakeville continued the hitting barrage in the 7th. Jeff Farr led off the inning with his third hit, a single to right field. Justin Hahn stroked a single down the right field line before Brent Johnson hit a single to centerfield to score Farr. Two outs later, Eddie Golom picked up his third hit of the night with a single to right-center that scored Hahn. Josh Storm hit a looper to center that the centerfielder made a sliding catch on, but the ball popped out of his glove for a fielding error, allowing Johnson to score. Kevin George hit a single to right and John Degerness walked to load the bases. Jeff Farr then hit into a fielder's choice for a 6-4 putout to force Degerness for the 3rd out, but Lakeville had taken a 14-8 lead.

New pitcher Josh Spitzack made his Athletics debut by pitching shutout ball in the 7th and the 8th. He gave up two hits in the 7th, but struck out three in the inning. In the 8th he faced just four batters as he walked one and retired the rest on a pop-up, fly-out and groundout. Spitzack will help bolster a rotation which is getting stronger down the stretch for Lakeville.

New pitching addition Josh Spitzack looked good in his Athletics debut.

The Athletics went down 1-2-3 in the 8th, but came right back for insurance runs in the 9th. Mark Berger and Eddie Golom both walked before Josh Storm picked up his second hit of the night with a scorched single to right. One out later, John Degerness picked up his 4th hit, as well as his 3rd and 4th RBI, with a single to right, scoring both Berger and Golom. Two following outs ended the inning, but with Lakeville holding a commanding 16-8 lead.

Mark Berger came on to close the game out in the 9th, facing just four batters. He struck out one before allowing his only hit. He then struck out another Bandit before inducing a fly-out to Degerness in center to end the game.

Jake Hauck collected the win for the Athletics.

Defensive highlights came from the Athletics middle infield as Eddie Golom and Justin Hahn both played well. In the 5th inning, right fielder John Degerness made a great throw from right to shortstop Eddie Golom who fired to Kevin George at 3rd to prevent a Bandit triple.

Collecting hits for Lakeville were...

• John Degerness 4 for 5, 4 RBI, 3 R, BB
• Eddie Golom 3 for 4, 2B, 1 RBI, 3 R, BB
• Jeff Farr 3 for 6, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 3 R, OBE, FC
• Justin Hahn 3 for 6, 2 RBI, R
• Brent Johnson 2 for 5, 3 RBI, R
• Mark Berger 2 for 5, R, BB
• Josh Storm 2 for 6, 2 RBI, R, FC, OBE
• Kevin George 1 for 4, 1 RBI, 2 R, 2 BB

The Athletics are trying to get a game scheduled immediately following the 4th of July, otherwise their next contest will be Saturday, July 9th at home at Lakeville South in a rematch with the Eagan Bandits.