NRHEG rallies for 3-2 victory in final at-bat on day field is renamed
They won one for Reese.
On the day the field was renamed in honor of former coach Jeff Reese and his late wife, Carol, the NRHEG baseball team pulled off a two-run rally in the bottom of the seventh inning to defeat PACT Academy 3-2 Saturday, May 14 in New Richland
“It was an exciting game, and a great win for our boys on the day we renamed the field,” said Panthers coach Drew Paukert, whose team improved to 4-10 after losses earlier in the week.
But Paukert is pleased with the progress, especially Saturday against a state ranked opponent.
“These last two games I have been extremely proud of our guys’ efforts,” said Paukert. “We have been down in some close games and haven’t hung our heads; we have stuck with it and were able to pull this one out.”
The Panthers took a 1-0 lead in the second when John Hubly doubled and later scored on a sharp single to right by Eli Lutgens.
PACT Academy took a 2-1 lead in the fourth, and it remained that way until the bottom of the seventh.
A clutch RBI single by Dempsey Tucker scored Sawyer VanMaldeghem to tie it, and John Hubly won it with a line drive single to center to plate Cole Staloch.
Lutgens finished 2-for-2, Staloch and Hubly 2-for-3, Tucker 1-for-4.
“Eli and Cole had a great afternoon at the plate, both reaching base three times,” said Paukert.
Junior Jack Schultz was a workhorse on the mound, earning a complete-game victory while allowing two earned runs on three hits, with nine strikeouts and six walks.
Losing pitcher Zach Hagen struck out 11 and walked one.
Medford 1, NRHEG 0
Tucker and the Tigers’ Nick Meixner locked up in a pitcher’s duel at Medford Thursday, May 12.
Tucker, who had the Tigers flailing at air most of the day, had a no-hitter going into the seventh, when he worked out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam. NRHEG had runners at second and third with no outs in the fourth. The Tigers hit back-to-back doubles to win it in the ninth.
Tucker finished with a four-hitter, striking out 13 and walking two. Meixner gave up two hits — both to Staloch — while striking out seven and walking two.
“Dempsey pitched one of the better games I’ve seen from a high school pitcher,” said Paukert. “Unfortunately, we couldn’t get a hit with guys in scoring position. I was extremely proud of how hard the guys played.”
Maple River 4, NRHEG 1
The Panthers lost another defensive battle at New Richland Tuesday, May 10, giving up three unearned runs in the top of the seventh after Schultz was pulled after 6 2/3 innings.
“I was impressed how Jack threw,” said Paukert. “He pitched one of his best games of the season. We didn’t make plays for him down the stretch and that hurt us. Offensively, we struggled.”
Finishing with one hit apiece were VanMaldeghem, Hubly, Lutgens, Sam Prigge and Palmer Peterson.
Schultz allowed one earned run on four hits, with nine strikeouts and seven walks.