by Dave DeMars
The game was tight for the first three innings. The Poneys even filled the bases in the second, but alas, those runners died on base. It was Clear Lake that managed to crack a blooper into short left field and loaded the bases with a walk and a bunt. With the bases loaded, the Lakers cracked a line double to center field and scored a couple of runs. A third run scored shortly after on a wild ball by the pitcher.
Neither team scored in the fourth inning, but Clear Lake hit a home run over the center-field fence in the top of the fifth inning to make it 4-0.
In the bottom of the fifth, Jacob Light managed to drive in a run for the Poneys, but that was all they could muster and the score stood 4-1. In the top of the seventh inning, the Poneys pulled their pitcher Jeff Amann for Alex Kreiling who struck out the first man he faced for the second out of the inning. But then Clear Lake managed to drive home two more runs making it 7-1. The Poneys came up and managed to load the bases. A chop infield hit to the pitcher forced an out at home and the Poneys left the bases loaded for a second time.
In the top of the eighth with a man on, Clear Lake managed another home run over the left-field fence giving them a 9-1 lead going into the ninth inning. In the ninth, Clear Lake added two more runs, but the Poneys staged a comeback in the bottom of the ninth.
The Poneys got two men on with a walk and a single. A second walk loaded the bases for the third time. Two more walks made the score 11-3 with the bases still loaded. A dribbler back to the pitcher made an easy force out at home, but in trying to create a double play, the ball sailed over the first baseman’s head and allowed another run to score, 11-4. A pop fly into short right field scored two more runs making it 11-6, but that was all the Poneys could rally for as they left two men on in the ninth.
Albertville Villains waylay the Stone Poneys, 13-3
Despite being outhit by the Villains 12 to 7, the combination of walks and hits allowed the Villains to pile up 13 runs in a shortened game.
Cold Spring Springers trounce Muskies, 7-2
In a long-awaited home opener, the Cold Spring Springers showed that late starts at home can be beneficial as they beat the Sartell Muskies, 7-2. Sartell managed to corral six hits, but managed to only score two runs in a hard-fought game. Cold Spring managed 10 hits and scored seven runs off losing pitcher David Deminsky.
Third baseman Logan Peratalo prepares to put the tag on a Clear Lake runner that had strayed too far down the third-base line in the May 23 game at Champion field in Sartell.
Jacob Light legs it down the first-base line after hitting a squibber along the third-base line. He managed to beat out the throw.
