Express Top Athletics 5-1

Josh Storm had a great night defensively for Lakeville.

For once this year there were no crazy calls and no bad officiating to grouse about in a Lakeville-Elko match-up. It was just good solid baseball between the lines. Unfortunately for the Athletics the Elko defense played exceptionally well  on Wednesday night, making life tough on the Lakeville offense. The Athletics have been playing a game of "at 'em" ball the last few games, but the Elko defense actually robbed their fair share of hits with some gold-glove caliber web gems to help stifle the Lakeville bats. Good defense was the tale of the tape as the Express swept their season series with a 5-1 win at Fredrickson Field.

Third baseman Trent Larson readies himself as Jake Hauck brings the ball.

Jake Hauck started on the mound for Lakeville, working five complete innings, scattering seven hits while allowing four runs. He struck out one and walked one as he took his first loss in his last five starts.

The first inning was scoreless for both teams, but the Express jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the 2nd inning.

Lakeville didn't pick up its first hits until back to back singles from designated hitter Eric Watts and shortstop Eddie Golom in the 3rd. Both runners were stranded in the inning.

Eddie Golom stands at 1st base in the 3rd inning after collecting the first of two hits on the night.

The Express picked up two more runs in the top of the 4th, while the Athletics, the home team for the night, were scoreless in the bottom of the inning.

Lakeville didn't pick up another hit until the 5th inning when catcher Brent Johnson came to the plate with one out and scorched a blistering shot off the top of the left-center fence, just missing a home run by mere inches. The ball was hit so hard that it ricocheted back into the outfield and Johnson was held to a long single. Ben Elliott went in to pinch-run for Johnson, but was erased from the bags on a 6-4-3 double-play as the team was held scoreless once again.

Brent Johnson gets sets to pound a ball off the top of the fence in the 5th inning.

Brent Johnson slides safely back into 1st base after his fence topper bounced back into play quickly.

Josh Spitzack came on to pitch in relief in the top of the 6th, needing just four pitches in a 1-2-3 inning.

Outstanding defense from the Express 3rd baseman was responsible for all three outs in the Athletics half of the 6th as Elko still led 4-0.

Spitzack once again retired the side, facing just three batters in the 7th.

With one out already on the board in the bottom of the 7th, Left fielder Kevin George picked up Lakeville's 4th hit of the night. Right fielder John Degerness hit into a fielder's choice to the 2nd baseman, forcing George at 2nd. Center fielder Mark Berger hit into his own fielder's choice to 3rd base, forcing Degerness at 2nd to end the inning.

Spitzack returned to the mound in the top of the 8th, surrendering two hits, but one of them was a solo home run to center field to give Elko a 5-0 lead.

Josh Spitzack throws a runner out at first base in the 6th inning.

Lakeville hit the ball hard in the bottom half of the 8th with Brent Johnson and Eric Watts both pounding balls to the warning track in left center, but both found leather on more solid defense from the Express.

John Degerness took the hill in the top of the 9th. He struck out the first batter he faced before giving up a double down the left field line. The next batter flew out to center fielder Mark Berger. "Deggy" hit the next batter, but stranded both Elko runners in the inning with another centerfield fly-out to end a scoreless inning.

Eddie Golom gets his lead at 2nd after a lead-off double in the bottom of the 9th.

The Athletics tried to mount a comeback in the bottom of the 9th. Eddie Golom smoked a double to the left field fence to lead off the inning. Third baseman Trent Larson walked after a 3-1 pitch. First baseman Josh Storm hit into a fielder's choice to the 2nd baseman who forced Larson at 2nd. Elko tried to turn the double-play but Storm was safe at 1st base on a bad throw. An alert Golom, intent on breaking up the shutout, didn't stop running and went from 2nd to home, beating the throw at the plate as it hit him in the foot while sliding safely for Lakeville's only run of the night. One strike out later John Degerness walked, but an ensuing strike out ended the inning and the Athletics hopes for a comeback. The final score was 5-1.

Defensively highlights for the night came from... shortstop Eddie Golom who snared a line drive rocket in the 3rd inning... Justin Hahn who once again played well at 2nd base... pitchers Jake Hauck and Josh Spitzer who both made nice plays on hot shots back to the mound in the 3rd and 7th innings... but the real defensive night belonged to 1st baseman and team veteran Josh Storm who was absolutely nails on the field as he was directly responsible for six outs on his own, including a hard hit liner in the 8th inning.

Elko out-hit Lakeville on the night 10-5.

Collecting hits for the Athletics were...

• Eddie Golom 2 for 4, R
• Brent Johnson 1 for 3
• Eric Watts 1 for 3
• Kevin George 1 for 4

The Athletics next game is on the road Saturday at 2:00 at Rosemount.

Note: Sunday's game against the Inver Grove Diamond Kings has been moved to 6:00 to help accommodate a junior legion tourney being held at Lakeville South.