Kerry Rodd
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"Carlton played a great game," Olin said. "We got off to an early lead, but we let them stick around and gave them a few extra outs with errors and that gave them life." South Ridge then faced the enviable task of trying to take out an Ely team that was fighting its way back out of the losers bracket.
Despite Mother Nature's best efforts, baseball playoffs kicked off Tuesday, May 29, across the area.
"Anytime you can score in the first inning of a game is important because it gives you momentum," ML-WR coach Kelly Goeb said. "Lauren has started a lot of games for us with a home run, which puts the pressure on the other team and helps to elevate our offense."
In doubles play, Johnson has the luxury of a deep and talented group. It doesn't hurt having 12 players who can be mixed and matched for 10 varsity positions, including singles and doubles players. "As far as doubles go, I have mixed and matched a lot of players," Johnson said. "Figuring out the chemistry is a big part of it as to who works well together. Matching strengths and weaknesses so things even out on the court. It's nice that I have 12 guys that I can work with."
Barnum has a young squad this year and at times, that youth shows up on the field and in their at bats. "We haven't really hit the ball well in the first three games," Bender said. "We are very young and are playing freshmen and sophomores in important roles. We have only two seniors, but I believe as we move into more game action that things will come together at the plate and defensively with our focus for seven innings." <
In Monday's win over South Ridge, the game was close through five innings, with Barnum leading just 3-2 before the bats erupted to score nine runs during the remainder of the game and Kylee Bergquist leading the way with a grand slam.
The tough conditions were not the only obstacle the Lindquists had to overcome, as just getting to Boston proved to be equally difficult. "It was quite an adventure to get to Boston because we were stuck in the Minneapolis airport for 30 hours due to the blizzard the Twin Cities had," Bryan said. "We ended up sleeping at the airport and finally made it to Boston on Sunday at about 5 p.m. and picked up our race packets at the last second and got some dinner." The difficult trek to Boston included four canceled flights, nine different boarding passes and a total of 34 hours in the airport. "We were intending on leaving the airport at 6 a.m.," Jackson said. "Just getting to Boston was a crazy experience."
For the first time in school history, a Cromwell-Wright archer has qualified for the National Archery in the Schools tournament.
Every year brings something a bit different, but this season is rivaling 2013 for a late start to getting on the fields and courts to play games. For the most part, every local baseball and softball team is facing at least a one- to two-week season delay.
Entering the Monday, Feb. 26, road game with Duluth Marshall, Nick Mattson of Wrenshall needed 49 points to pick up his 1,000th career point. In an incredible display of 3-point shooting, Mattson not only picked up what he needed, but he obliterated the local record books when he lit up the scoreboard for 17 3-point shots and 62 points as the Wrens ran away with a 116-83 win over the Hilltoppers. "We talked about how many points he needed before we left for the game," Wrens coach Jon Bartzak said.