By JIM LUTGENS
Sports Editor
The NRHEG High School baseball team defeated Hayfield 12-10 in a less-than-textbook affair Monday, May 1 at Jeff & Carol Reese Field in New Richland.
“It wasn’t pretty, but it was a ‘W’,” said Panthers coach Mark Lee.
Hayfield got things moving in the first inning as Aiden Nelson hit into a fielder’s choice, driving in a run.
The Panthers plated six runs in the fifth, led by run-scoring hits from Ethan Thompson, Seth Staloch, Jared Lee and Andrew Phillips.
Sam Olson pitched the Panthers to victory in relief. The lefthander went 1 2/3 inning, allowing two runs on one hit, striking out one and walking one.
Isaac Nelson took the loss for Hayfield, surrendering four runs on hit over two innings, striking out two. Corbin Krueger started for the Vikings, giving up four runs on one hit with six strikeouts.
Daxter Lee started on the mound for the Panthers and was reached for eight runs on five hits over five and 2/3 innings. He fanned five.
The Panthers totaled six hits, with Phillips finishing 2-for-5 with four RBIs. Thompson was 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Daxter Lee, Carter Martens, Jared Lee and Jace Ihrke contributed one hit apiece, with Thompson, Ihrke and Jackson Chrz each driving in two runs. Thompson, Chrz, Olson and Jared Lee all scored twice. Phillips tripled and Martens doubled.
Six Hayfield hitters had one hit each.
“The fifth inning was a bit of a turn of the game for the worse for both teams,” said Coach Lee. “Andrew had a good day at the plate with two hits. Daxter pitched well, but had to throw a lot of extra pitches.”
The Panthers defeated JWP 9-6 at Janesville Thursday.
It was tied 6-6 in the sixth when Alden Dobberstein, on a 3-2 count, singled and drove in two runs.
NRHEG totaled eight hits on the day.
Jackson Chrz started on the mound for NRHEG and struggled a bit but kept the Panthers in the game for three innings. Freshman Jared Lee was sharp in relief, allowing no runs through four innings for his first varsity victory. He yielded five hits and two walks while striking out three.
Phillips was 2-for-3 with a triple, two RBIs and three runs. Daxter Lee also tripled. Ihrke had two hits and an RBI.
The Panthers tore up the base paths, with Dobberstein stealing three bases and two others stole two.
The Panthers were scheduled to host Triton on Tuesday and Kenyon-Wanamingo Thursday. They entertain Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s Saturday at 1 p.m., play Monday at Maple River and Tuesday , May 16 at Albert Lea.