Lakeville Tops Inver Grove 15-4

"George, George, George of the jungle." KG gets 'er done with a two-run bomb in the 4th inning.

After dropping three in a row, it was nice to get back in the win column on Sunday. The Lakeville bats had been struggling as of late with just eight hits in their last three games, but they broke out the lumber against Inver Grove in a home game at Lakeville South. The highlight of the day was a towering two-run home run over the right field scoreboard by Kevin George who was 3 for 5 with five RBI. King George just missed the cycle by a triple as he led the Lakeville hitting attack for the afternoon.

Trent Larson threw 120 pitches in the heat to get the win.

Trent Larson started on the mound for the Athletics and threw 120 pitches on a sweltering afternoon to pick up the win for Lakeville. Larson allowed just four hits and four runs, with two of the runs being unearned. He struck out six in the outing.

The Diamond Kings threatened early in the game with a runner at 2nd base after a walk and a stolen base, but Larson was able to catch him off the bag where he was put out in a 1-6-5 rundown to end the inning and the threat.

Shortstop Eddie Golom and third baseman Kevin George get the runner in the 1st inning.

The Athletics got on the board early in the bottom half of the 1st with eight runs on just four hits and two Inver Grove errors. Shortstop Eddie Golom led off by reaching base safely after the 1st baseman failed to scoop the ball. Trent Larson then walked on a full count. First baseman Josh Storm hit an RBI single up the middle to score Golom who just never stopped running after a good read and heads up base running. Third baseman Kevin George then began his assault on the Inver Grove pitching by pounding an RBI double to the right-center gap, the first of his three hits on the day, scoring Larson for the 2nd run of the inning. Catcher Derek Hahn reached on a fielding error by the 2nd baseman, but he also picked up an RBI as he scored Storm on the play. Centerfielder Mark Berger walked on four straight pitches to load the bags for Lakeville. Left fielder Jeff Farr hit into a fielder's choice to the 3rd baseman, forcing George on a throw to the plate. Right fielder John Degerness hit into a fielder's choice to the 2nd baseman, forcing Hahn at home. Second baseman Justin Hahn was hit by a pitch to reload the bases. Eddie Golom came back to the dish for his second time in the inning and stroked a two-RBI single up the middle, scoring both Farr and Degerness on the hit. Trent Larson walked for the second time in the inning on another full count. Josh Storm then banged his second hit of the inning for a two-RBI single to right, scoring Justin Hahn and Golom. Kevin George smashed a ball to center field, but it was caught by the Inver Grove defender for the 3rd out. Lakeville took an 8-0 lead after one inning of play.

Josh Storm rips a shot up the middle in the 1st inning.

After a scoreless 2nd inning for both teams, the Diamond Kings put up two runs on two hits in the 3rd inning to cut the lead to 8-2, but the Athletics came right back and picked up both of the runs in the bottom half of the inning.

Eddie Golom led off the 3rd with a walk. Trent Larson was hit by a pitch. Josh Storm moved both runners up on a 6-3 groundout, before Kevin George pounded a single to right to score both Golom and Larson. Derek Hahn walked, but a pop-up in foul territory to the 1st baseman, as well as a 6-3 groundout, ended the inning. Lakeville led at that point 10-2.

Trent Larson does his best Pete Rose impersonation after hitting a double in the 4th inning.

After a scoreless top half of the 4th for Inver Grove, Lakeville went back to work in the bottom of the inning. After a lead-off fly-out, Justin Hahn got things going with a single over the right side of the infield that dropped in for a hit. Eddie Golom came back to the plate and took a wild pitch, moving Hahn to 2nd, before walking on four straight pitches. Trent Larson hit a hard hopper down the 3rd base line for a double to score Hahn. Eric Watts entered the game in the three hole and hit a two-RBI single down the right field line that scored both Golom and Larson. Kevin George then came to the plate and took a first pitch strike and then a ball before crushing his two-run bomb over the right field scoreboard for his 4th and 5th RBI of the of the game, driving in his ex-UIU roommate Eric Watts. Derek Hahn walked on a full count before Nick Daniels drove a ball to the right-center gap, but a good catch by the centerfielder and a throw-out at the bag ended the inning. The Athletics put five on the board in the inning to lead the game 15-2.

Jeff Farr reaches home as John Degerness rounds 3rd base headed for another score.

Inver Grove battled back for two more runs in the 5th to cut the lead to 15-4. Larson left the game after 120 pitches and a win securely in hand.

Lakeville went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the 5th for the first time in the game.

Josh Spitzack entered the game and took the hill in relief in the 6th inning and set the Diamond Kings down 1-2-3 as well.

The Athletics were scoreless in the bottom of the 6th, with left fielder Eric Watts collecting the only hit with a single down the left field line.

Josh Spitzack pitches in relief in the 6th inning.

Spitzack finished off Inver Grove in the 7th, working two complete innings with no hits and three strikeouts in his third outing since joining the Athletics.

Defensively the whole team played well, but Larson's pick off play at 2nd base in the 3rd inning helped set the tone early on.

Lakeville out-hit the Diamond Kings 11 to 4 on the day.

Collecting hits for the Athletics were...

• Kevin George 3 for 5, HR, 5 RBI, R
• Josh Storm 2 for 3, 3 RBI, R
• Eric Watts 2 for 2, 2 RBI, R
• Trent Larson 1 for 2, 2B, RBI, 3 R, 2 BB, HBP
• Eddie Golom 1 for 2, 2 RBI, 4 R, 2 BB, OBE
• Justin Hahn 1 for 3, RBI, 2 R, HBP
• John Degerness 1 for 4, R, FC

The next game for Lakeville is Monday night against Burnsville at Alimagnet park at 7:30.