HIBBING—It all came down to getting a big hit, and the South Ridge High School baseball team clutched up more.
The Panthers got two RBI triples from Ben Petrasky and a suicide-squeez bunt from Austin Olson en route to a 5-1 victory over Hibbing Thursday at Al Nyberg Field.
The Panthers ability to execute with runners in scoring position led to the win.
“We played a clean game today,” South Ridge coach Aaron Weber said. “We took care of our jobs well. We had a bunch of young guys that played really good baseball. That was good to see.”
After Hibbing pitcher Luke Nelson retired South Ridge in order in the top of the first, the Bluejackets had the opportunity to jump ahead when Brayden Rewertz singled and stole second. Jace Kampusul singled and stole second putting runners on second and third, with no out.
One problem existed. Panther starting pitcher Blake Olson bore down and struck out the next three hitters, taking some of the wind out of Hibbing’s sails.
“Your first two guys get on, so it’s frustrating, disappointing that we don’t put a ball in play,” Hibbing coach Jay Wetzel said. “Tip your hat to their pitcher. He kept us off balance. He struck out eight of us in five innings of work.
“He did what he needed to. It was more on our end. You get the first two guys on base, then we get three more hits in the rest of the game. We pitched fairly well. We didn’t give them any extra passes, but when they had the opportunities, their batters stepped up and drove gaps. We didn’t today.”
As a matter of fact, out of the Bluejackets first six outs, five of them were strikeouts. Out of Hibbing first nine at bats, seven of them were strikeouts.
It came down to putting the ball in play, and the Bluejackets couldn’t make solid contact.
“That’s not good,” Wetzel said. “We need to be better at the plate. That’s where we’re at.”
After a scoreless first three innings, South Ridge’s Eli Coon singled to start the fourth inning, then Petrasky tripled to deep right-center field to make it 1-0.
One out later, Austin Olson laid down that suicide-squeeze bunt to make it 2-0.
“Defensively, when they had runs scored, we were a part of that. plays that we should have or could have made,” Wetzel said. “Their second run, we called a pitchout on a suicide squeeze, and we put it down the middle.
“We didn’t execute that.”
The Bluejackets did get one of those runs back in their half of the fourth as Kaden Augustine doubled, took third on a groundout, then with two out, Tait Swanson’s infield hit made it 2-1.
“We knew runs were going to be at a premium,” Wetzel said. “When we had opportunities, the few times we did, we didn’t step up and make contact. You’re not going to win games against good teams in that way.”
The score stayed that way until the sixth when the Panthers put some breathing room between themselves and Hibbing.
Coon reached on a one-out error, then Petrasky hit his second triple of the game to the exact same spot his first three-bagger went.
“Ben Petrasky has been a big bat for us all year, and he got up with guys in scoring position and hit two triples,” Weber said. “Sometimes in baseball, it’s one swing that can win you a ball game.
“That’s what did it for us.”
Christian Petrasky followed with a shot to the same spot, but the ball was dropped for an error, making it 4-1. Parker Morris hit a two-out RBI single to give South Ridge that four-run lead.
“We had a chance to catch a ground ball, and we didn’t make a play,” Wetzel said. “We had a couple of balls in the air that we didn’t make plays on and all of a sudden, that’s three outs.
“I’m not saying we don’t give up any that inning, but you have to minimize in those situations. We had leather on two balls in the air, and we didn’t catch either one of them. It was one of those days. They were the better team in all facets.”
Getting that four-run cushion put Weber’s mind at ease.
“That made us breathe a little easier on the bench, but overall, it was a good game,” Weber said. “Our pitchers threw well. We played good defense. That, by itself, is going to win you games.”
Especially with Blake Olson on the mound. He worked five innings of four-hit ball, striking out eight. Gavin Willeck tossed two innings, allowing one hit. He fanned one.
“He was locating it well,” Weber said. “I told our coaches that it’s fun calling pitches from the dugout when you know where it’s going to be every time. He’s looked good this year. He’s only a freshman, but he’s one of our best pitchers.”
Nelson tossed 5 ⅔ innings, giving up six hits. He struck out eight. Kody Birmes tossed 1 ⅓ innings, allowing two hits.
Cherry 12,
Chisholm 0
CHERRY—The Tigers broke open a one-run game with an 11-run fourth inning en route to the five-inning, 10-run rule win over the Bluestreaks at home Thursday.
Noah Sundquist worked five innings of no-hit ball, striking out 12 and walking three.
Noah Asuma had three hits, including two triples, and three RBI. Andrew Staples had two hits, including a double and two RBI. Carson Brown also had two hits.
Isaac Asuma hit a triple.
Andrew Sundquist worked four innings for Chisholm. He gave up 10 hits, struck out four and walked one.
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