By JODY WYNNEMER
Staff Writer
The New Richland Reds baseball blub has started its quest for yet another 1360 League Championship. Their record stands at 1-2 so far this season with several contests being rained out. Many of last year’s players have returned for 2012.
MN Lake Royals 5, Reds 3
The Reds traveled the short distance to Minnesota Lake on May 15 but were unable to mount much offense. The Reds sent four batters to the plate in the first inning but came up empty. The Royals opened the scoring with two runs in their half of their first. The Reds bounced back as Chris Somage led off the second with a single. Dan Fitterer and Andrew Harringtion both walked and later scored with Jason Churchill getting an RBI.
The Royals sealed the win with a three-run seventh inning to make it 5-2. New Richland tried to get back in the game as Aaron Gilliland doubled and scored in the top of the ninth to close within 5-3.
Somage and Gilliland had two hits a piece. Churchill, Fitterer and Chad Staloch each had a base knock. Harrington allowed five earned runs on six hits, five walks and struck out 10.
“A couple of key base running errors by us helped them win the game,” said Reds player/manager Jason Churchill.
Waterville Indians 6, Reds 1
The Reds entertained the Indians of Waterville in a key league game on Sunday, June 3. The home team’s bats were cold as five of the first nine batters succumbed to strikeouts. The Indians scored one run in the third inning, two in the fourth and three more in the fifth.
The Reds’ lone run came in the ninth when Gilliland doubled and scored. Waterville pitching held the New Richland nine to only three hits and struck out eight.
“We had quite a few errors and didn’t hit the ball at all,” said Churchill.
