Kemp's arm leads Wolverines to 10-0 win over Rebels

VIRGINIA—The Rock Ridge baseball team closed out the week the way they were hoping to with a clean 10-0 win over visiting Moose Lake/Willow River.

Starting pitcher Will Kemp got the job done on the mound for the Wolverines, tossing a two-hitter in a six-inning complete game. Kemp stepped into the starting spot on short notice with another Wolverine out sick. Head coach Jamie Lindseth said after the game that the shuffling around didn’t prove to be a challenge for his players and praised Kemp for his performance.

“When your starter for the day is out sick, now you have to start juggling everything around,” Lindseth said. “Being down a player like that, it was great to see everybody step up really well. Will was very good on the mound. He didn’t struggle and he finished right at the pitch count to where we could use him again Monday if we need to.

“This is a game where we might have had to test our depth a little bit but Will was fantastic. He had a great week on the mound. He threw well in [Grand] Rapids and threw well here.”

The Rebels threatened to score early on with leadoff hitter Lane Radzak singling up the right side to start the game. He moved to third on back-to-back plays but was stranded at third after Kemp struck out PJ Frisch to end the inning.

Rock Ridge responded right away, scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the first off of Moose Lake/Willow River starter Reese Bode. Tyler Reid took a walk with one out and moved to second when Gunnar George singled to right. The first run came in when Sam Ray singled to center and a second came in when Kemp knocked an infield single, 2-0.

After a 1-2-3 top of the second from Kemp where he picked up three strikeouts, the Wolverines tacked on another run in the bottom half of the inning.

Isaac Lindhorst reached on a walk and stole his way to second. Joey Aho was thrown out on a fielder’s choice to first that allowed Lindhorst to take third. From there, Reid was able to bring him home with a single to right, 3-0.

Battling blustery winds all game, the Wolverines managed to make all the plays they needed to, locating fly balls and turning the routine plays with ease. With the game moving at a quick pace in the third and fourth, it wasn’t until the bottom of the fifth that Rock Ridge blew things wide open.

Magnus Koecher took over on the mound for the Rebels and gifted the Wolverines a pair of early walks to Reid and Ray. The pair each stole a bag until they were on second and third and the lead runner came in when Koecher delivered a wild pitch to Kemp. Kemp then took a walk to put runners on the corners, ending Koecher’s time on the hill with Radzak replacing him.

Caz Carlson (pinch running for Kemp) stole his way to second and Ray was able to come home safely after the pickoff attempt sailed into center field, 5-0.

Harley Mott was next to get on for free with a walk and another run came in to score when Lindhorst singled up the left side. Another wild pitch brought run No. 7 in and the last two runs of the inning scored when Owen Hallin knocked an RBI single up the middle, 9-0.

“Even though it was a bit quiet in the middle of the game, it’s not like we were taking poor at bats,” Lindseth said. “We shut them down early and took our lead but then we had a couple innings where we were just hitting them right at people. Maybe we popped a couple up.

“But then in the fifth it all came together. The guys were running the bases well and I thought we were being really aggressive, more so than we have been in the past. We were getting good leads and reading things well so I couldn’t find much to complain about.”

Kemp gave up a walk in the top of the sixth but the Wolverines turned a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning, erasing the batter while just one run away from ending the game via mercy rule.

MLWR’s Joey Steen took over to pitch the sixth. With one out, Ray reached on an infield error and the game ended not long after when Aiden Bird smashed an RBI triple to right-center field.

Securing the 10-0 win, Lindseth said it was a full effort from his squad that had some issues finishing games earlier in the week.

“We played a good, clean game and that’s what we were looking for. Everybody did their part. The wind was a bugger and some of those fly balls were a challenge but the guys stepped up. It was a great way for us to end the week.”

Overall, it was the offense that Lindseth was most positive on.

“We were creating some chaos when we were on the bags I think. Moose Lake was paying a lot of attention to our runners and that let us play aggressive. Give credit to our hitters for staying in the zone, not chasing and doing the little things right.”

Moving to 7-4 on the season, Lindseth says things are taking shape and the team is hoping to continue their positive trajectory.

“You don’t know what to expect when you come in with so little varsity experience this year but I’m pleasantly surprised. Next week will be a challenge for us but if we throw strikes, play defense and control what we can control then I think we’ll be in good shape.”

BOYS’ TENNIS

Rock Ridge 7,

Duluth Marshall 0

VIRGINIA—The Rock Ridge boys’ tennis team had little issue on Friday as they cruised past Duluth Marshall 7-0.

In singles, Payton Marks battled it out at the No.1 spot, but ended up pulling out the 7-5, 6-3 win over Landon Wheeler. Kasey Lamppa, Will Peterson and Gage Benz all picked up singles wins as well.

In doubles, Peyton Bialke and Rory Cope-Robinson were victors at the top spot while Dawson Ruedebusch and Aidan Sandas, as well as Tyler Callister and Grady Dimberio cruised at No. 2 and 3 to help complete the 7-0 sweep.

Rock Ridge returns to action Tuesday when they host Hermantown.

Rock Ridge 7, Duluth Marshall 0

Singles: No. 1 Payton Marks, RR, def. Landon Wheeler 7-5, 6-3; No. 2 Kasey Lamppa, RR, def. Will Watson 6-1, 6-1; No. 3 Will Peterson, RR, def. Barrett Grim 6-0, 6-0; No. 4 Gage Benz, RR, def. Oliver Odland 6-0, 6-0.

Doubles: No. 1 Peyton Bialke/Rory Cope-Robinson, RR, def. Tae Harstead/Gunner Breitlow 6-0, 6-1; No. 2 Dawson Ruedebusch/Aidan Sandnas, RR, def. Sammy Hadiaras/Baker Anderson 6-0, 6-0; No. 3 Tyler Callister/Grady Dimberio, RR, def. Isaac Ballmer/Elliam Archambeau 6-0, 6-1.

SOFTBALL

South Ridge 17,

Ely 7

ELY—The Ely softball team managed to outhit visiting South Ridge on Friday, but couldn’t get the win as the Panthers downed the Timberwolves 17-7 in five innings.

Hannah Penke, Zoe MacKenzie, Gracy Flynn and Maija Mattson all collected hits in the loss for Ely. Amelia Penke took the loss in the pitcher’s circle, giving up the 17 runs on 15 walks and three hits.

Ely is back in action Tuesday when they host Chisholm.

COLLEGE SOFTBALL

Northland 10-10,

Mesabi Range 2-8

THIEF RIVER FALLS—The Minnesota North-Mesabi Range softball team hit the road Saturday and fell in both games of their doubleheader 10-2 and 10-8 to Northland.

Hailey Greenly took the loss in the pitcher’s circle in the opener, giving up 10 runs (nine earned) on 11 hits and five walks. She struck out eight.

At the plate, Katie Peck was 1-3 with a home run and two RBIs. Elizabeth Hey finished 2-3 with a run scored. Greenly, Janie Potts and Allie Bittmann all had hits as well.

In the second game, Greenly took the loss, giving up 10 runs (three earned) on 12 hits and two walks. She struck out six.

At the plate, Joey Westby was 3-5 with a double, three runs scored and two RBIs. Potts was 1-4 with four RBIs. Peck was 1-3 with a double and Greenly was 1-4 with two runs scored. Destry Whitbeck added a hit.

Mesabi Range 13-9,

Northland 5-1

VIRGINIA—The Norse secured a spot in the region tournament on Sunday, taking down Northland in the home half of the series 13-5 and then 9-1.

In the opening win, Hailey Greenly got the W in the circle, giving up five runs (four earned) on eight hits and three walks. She struck out four.

At the plate, Katie Peck was 3-4 with two doubles, three RBIs and two runs scored. Joey Westby was 2-3 with three RBIs. Elizabeth Hey was 3-3 with three runs scored and Claire Cushman was 3-3 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored. Madeline Kallberg, Destry Whitebeck and Allie Bittmann all added a hit.

In the second game, Greenly got the win, giving up the one earned run on four hits and three walks. She struck out three.

At the plate, Peck was 3-3 with a triple and a double, two RBIs and two runs scored. Greenly was 2-3 with two doubles and an RBI. Westby was 3-5 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Cushman added a pair of hits while Hey, Janie Potts and Kallberg all added hits.

Mesabi Range (10-8) will begin the Region XIII North playoffs on Thursday when they take on North Dakota State College of Science starting at 11 a.m. in Brainerd.