By JIM LUTGENS
Editor/Publisher
It wasn't a strong start for the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva baseball team, but it didn't take the Panthers long to right the ship.
After dropping a 6-2 nonconference decision to Blue Earth Area at Legion Field last Tuesday, NRHEG took it out on Medford with a 13-3, five-inning triumph on the Tigers' field Thursday.
Junior Matt Dahle provided the offensive highlights in the opener, going 3-for-3 with a double and one run batted in.
Cody Kraay, a senior, started on the mound and pitched four innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits, with two strikeouts and six walks. Junior Mitch Akemann took the loss, going the last three innings and giving up four runs (one earned) on three hits. Akemann fanned two and walked one.
"Kraay and Akemann threw well for the opener," said Panthers coach Jeff Reese.
Junior Jacob Staloch had a standout defensive game at catcher, throwing out three runners attempting to steal second and another at home after a while pitch.
"Our defense played O.K. except for two crucial errors that accounted for three unearned runs," said Reese.
The Panthers had seven hits and five walks while striking out six times. Both teams had three errors.
The Panthers opened Gopher Conference play with a fun game at Medford, where they stole 10 bases and committed just one error.
Akemann was 2-for-3 at the plate with a double, three runs and three RBIs. Staloch was 1-for-2 with a double and four RBIs. The Panthers had seven hits and walked nine times.
Junior Sam Lundberg was the winning pitcher. He went four innings, allowing no runs on three hits, with eight strikeouts and three walks. David Lassahn threw the final frame, giving up three earned runs on two hits; he walked two and fanned two.
The Panthers faced Randolph on Monday. They play at Maple River Thursday at 5 p.m. and host their own tournament Saturday starting at 9 a.m. at Legion Field.
