Published On: June 26th, 2021

Duluth sends crowd home happy to snap three game losing skid

 

Zach Linfield, zachlinfield@gmail.com

Duluth, Minn. – A roar of the crowd spurned the Huskies heading into the bottom of the 9th inning as Dale “Hogie” Haagensen sent a jolt of energy through the rowdy folks. In one of the lower attended games this season, the crowd in attendance did not disappoint and left happy as the Huskies walked-off the Bismarck Larks by a score of 5-4.

Ben Pedersen made his third start at the Wade, where he played his high school baseball for Duluth Marshall High School. He went deeper into the ballgame than expected after his pitch count rose early. After allowing a 3rd inning home run to Bismarck’s Jaxon Rosencranz, Pedersen settled into a solid groove, using his whole arsenal to his advantage posting three straight one-two-three innings. He was relieved in 7th inning (ND, 6.0 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 4 K) after a Lark single and a reach on error with no outs. Eli Sundquist (W, 1-1) was depended on by Huskies’ Manager Marcus Pointer to get out of the jam scoreless. Sundquist did just that with a pop-out and two strikeouts. The Huskies used the Pedersen-Sundquist tandem to keep plenty available arms ready for tomorrow’s series cap against Bismarck.

The Larks got the scoring started in the 2nd inning when Ben Teel led off with a double and was singled home by Calen Schwabe. Bismarck scored another in the 2nd to take an early 2-0 lead under the cloudless Minnesota sky. The first Huskies’ run came in the form of an RBI groundout by Bryan Broecker after Blayne Robinson reached third on a single turned two-base error. Following the long 2nd inning, Jaxon Rosencranz homered on the first pitch of the 3rd inning. The Huskies countered the Larks run by scoring one of their own in the bottom half when Mike Boeve singled home Michael Brooks. Boeve boosted his team lead in RBIs to 15. The next Duluth run was courtesy of a Ryan McDonald RBI single in the 5th, scoring Cason Tollett, who has scored runs in each of the last two contests. With a tie game, there was a chain of zeros thrown up after the 5th inning until the 9th inning excitement started.

A strikeout started us off with one out in the top of the frame, then the Larks gathered back-to-back singles. Sundquist struck out another to put two outs on the scoreboard and had to face Ethan Kleinheider. On the second pitch of the at-bat, a fastball dribbled to the backstop and scored Jordan Sagedahl to give Bismarck the lead. Sundquist then struck out the side. When “Hogie” got the crowd on their feet to begin the bottom half, that’s when things blasted off on behalf of the home team. After a fielder’s choice erased Robinson from the base paths, Voitik and Wimpee both singled to load the bases. Cason Tollett waltzed to the dish with a chance to win the ballgame on his own facing the Larks’ reliever, Bret Barnett. In an early count, the pitch trickled away from the Larks’ catcher, scoring pinch-runner, Zac White from 3rd. Tollett was intentionally walked, and Coach Pointer put Kimo Fukofuka into the ballgame for Charlie Rhee to pinch-hit with one out. On the first pitch, he spun a ball seven feet down the 1st Base line and the Larks were unable to make a play on the ball, scoring Ambren Voitik to start the much-anticipated celebration after a week of some tough, late losses.

Duluth improves to 9-18 and will go for not only their first sweep, but their first win streak of the season. The Huskies will throw Will McEntire, who has established himself as one of the better, if not the best starter of the pitching staff rotation. The navy and grey square off against the Larks for the final game of their series tomorrow at 1:05 PM.

 

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The Duluth Huskies are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Having completed its’ 27th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 22 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, over 250 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and MLB Gold Glove finalist and 2019 Second Team All-MLB shortstop Marcus Semien (TOR). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.duluthhuskies.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Huskies as your favorite team.

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