Athletics Melt In Heat, Unravel In 5th Inning

Jake Hauck delivers in the 1st inning.

Lakeville was off to a promising start on Monday night, taking an early lead over Burnsville, but as the heat index rose, the Athletics lead melted like an ice cube on a hot summer sidewalk.

Veteran Jake Hauck started on the hill for the Athletics, battling the heat as much as he had to fight off the Burnsville bats. It was a sweltering night and you could literally see the sweat flying off Hauck's pitching arm as he threw each pitch. Likewise, you could see the sweat flying on each and every batter's swing. Unfortunately the Lakeville dugout was in the sun and it truly appeared to take its toll early on the Athletics.

Designated hitter Brent Johnson strokes a hit up the middle in the 3rd.

After a scoreless 1st and 2nd inning, Lakeville jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the 3rd. Designated hitter Brent Johnson led off by stroking a single to center. Left fielder Eric Watts smoked a ball to deep center but it was caught for the first out. Shortstop Eddie Golom went down on strikes after being set up on a horrible second strike call from blue. Third baseman Trent Larson walked on four straight pitches. Right fielder Kevin George hit a check swing tapper back to the pitcher but was safe on a throwing error. George stole 2nd base, but a throw to 3rd got Trent Larson as he was called for the third out, even though he dove back into the bag safely. It was indeed a close play, with Larson sneaking his hand under the tag, but blue missed the call and Lakeville missed a chance with two runners in scoring position.

KG, Kevin George gets his lead at 1st base in the 3rd inning.

Trent Larson gets his lead at 3rd base as Doug Johnson looks on in the 3rd inning.

The Bobcats came back in the bottom of the 3rd to score four runs on a fielding error and a hit batter, taking a 4-1 lead.

First baseman Mark Berger holds the runner at 1st in the 2nd inning.

Lakeville was scoreless in the 4th, but threatened again in the 5th inning. Brent Johnson walked after a full count. Eric Watts flew out to right before 2nd baseman Eddie George crushed a line-drive double to the center field fence, moving Johnson to 3rd. Two subsequent strikeouts ended the scoring threat, stranding both runners in scoring position.

Eddie Golom steps to the plate ready to rake.

The bottom of the 5th is where the heat melted the Athletics pitching. It was an inning where everything that could go wrong, did. Five walks, five hit batters, and five wild pitches, along with a catcher's throwing error, allowed nine Burnsville runs, without a single hit. Hauck, Ben Elliott and John Degerness all did their best to stop the bleeding, but the damage was done as the Bobcats took a 13-1 lead.

Burnsville held Lakeville scoreless in the 6th and 7th as they hung on for a game-shortened 10-run rule victory, plus a sweep of their season series. The two will meet again in the first round of the playoffs on July 31st.

Send baseman Justin Hahn calls off Mark Berger and Kevin George in the 1st inning.

Defensive highlights for the game belonged to third baseman Trent Larson and centerfielder John Degerness. Larson made two terrific plays at the hot corner, including a U5-3 double play in the 2nd inning. He also hustled well on a slow roller to the left of the mound in the 3rd inning to get the runner at 1st. Degerness made two nice catches in the 6th, including an outstanding catch on a rocket to the fence.

The Bobcats only out-hit the Athletics 6-4 despite such a lopsided loss.

Collecting hits for Lakeville were...

• Kevin George 1 for 3, RBI, SB, OBE
• Eddie Golom 1 for 4, 2B
• Brent Johnson 1 for 2, R, BB
• Mark Berger 1 for 2, BB

The next game for the Athletics is Tuesday July 26th against undefeated league leader Savage at 7:30 at Alimagnet Park.

Derek Hahn at the plate in the 4th.

Mark Berger bats in the 4th.