Thunder baseball, softball teams continue struggles

CLOQUET – Both the Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College baseball and softball programs have been quick to start playing this spring.

But the wins have been difficult to find.

Between the pair of Thunder clubs, one victory sits after a dozen affairs, as Kerry Rodd’s fifth-year FDLTCC softball team is 1-7, while Cal Barr’s inaugural baseball team sports a winless 0-4 mark thus far entering April.

“Defensively we have not been sharp,” said Barr, noting his guys have dropped doubleheaders against St. Cloud Technical and Mesabi Range Community Colleges in late March. “We’re working on what we can do and trying to get better. It’s sure going to be challenging this weekend, though.”

Barr explained his Thunder will take part in the Riverland Community College tournament on Friday and Saturday in Austin, Minn. Barr said his team will play four games in two days, stretching their thin pitching staff.

Losing pitchers of record for the Thunder so far have been Esko’s Richard Jubie twice, and AlBrook’s Bryce Karppinen and teammate Ryan Deshaw.

“We’re seeing progress out of the players, but how much progress, we’ll see this weekend,” Barr said. “Right now, we’re giving up extra outs and that makes it tough. Hopefully this weekend we can improve.”

Like Barr’s bunch, Rodd said his softball team has been allowing extra outs as well. Recently, Rodd watched as FDLTCC dropped a doubleheader 6-4 and 12-1 with Rainy River Community College Tuesday at Braun Park in Cloquet.

Their lone win sits against the North Dakota State College of Science on March 20.

“We play well at times, but we’re inconsistent and when we’re inconsistent, we’re really inconsistent,” Rodd said. “It’s like a snowball out of control.”

Moose Lake-Willow River’s Katie Youngberg and Cloquet’s Denise Rodd were the losing pitchers of record Tuesday. Rodd led the Thunder going 5-for-6 at the plate.

The Thunder will be back in action Thursday against Vermilion at 3 and 5 p.m. and Monday against Northland at 1 and 3 p.m. Both doubleheaders are at Braun Park.

“It’s still early,” Rodd continued. “We just have to rededicate ourselves.”

Tags: fond du lac tribal and community college, sports