54th article at the Independent

PREP BASEBALL: CMCS prevails over RTR 6-4

CHRIS DRUMMOND

cdrummond@marshallindependent.com

RUTHTON — In conditions that were unreal for a baseball type of atmosphere, the Russell-Tyler-Ruthton Knights baseball team fell to the Central Minnesota Christian Bluejays 6-4 despite a furious rally in the last half of the inning. It was a high of 35 degrees with winds howling from the east to west where both teams had to have heaters in the bullpen to make it through the game.

The Bluejays would score runs in the first four out of five innings in the game and kept the Knights at bay. It wasn’t until the last chance for the Knights where they started to get some momentum. Wild pitches by the Dragons and walks made a 6-0 game turn into a 6-4 game. All four runs by the Knights were with two outs. Outfielder Brayden Appel and third baseman Rion Moat both contributed hits and RBIs in the game for the Knights. RTR head coach Josh Fredrickson assessed his team’s performance in the game.

“We kind of got off to a slow start, we gotta find a way to take better at-bats and string hits together,” Fredrickson said. “Our focus at the plate isn’t where it needs to be. I think the last inning shows some things, we played loose and were able to string some bats together.”

Bluejays shortstop and outfielder Drew Duininck with teammate pitcher/third baseman Josh Nelson both had game-highs in hits (2) and RBIs at one apiece.

The Knights (0-2) will host the Adrian Dragons on Friday at 4:30 p.m.

CMCS 6, RTR 4

CMCS 121 020 00 — 6

RTR 000 000 4X — 4

Hitting: RTR (A. Wichmann 1-4; Christianson 1-4; Lamote 1-3; Appel 1-2, RBI; Moat 1-2, RBI; Anderson 1-3).

Pitching (IP-R-ER-H-BB-SO): RTR (Noble 3-4-0-0-4; Christianson 2-2-2-3-2-3; Wichmann 2-0-0-1-1-4).