Thompson, Olson launch home runs
By JIM LUTGENS
Sports Editor
The NRHEG High School base- ball team set the tone in the top of the first inning at Maple River Monday, May 15.
It never changed.
The Panthers plated five runs in their first at-bat en route to an 8-1 Gopher Conference victory in Mapleton.
Andrew Phillips led off with a walk and, after stealing second and third base, scored on a Daxter Lee infield single. The bats kept rolling from there.
Sam Olson started on the mound and got the victory, allowing only two hits and four walks with four strikeouts.
"He pitched another gem," said NRHEG coach Mark Lee.
Jackson Chrz pitched two innings of hitless relief, striking out three and walking none.
Olson and Alden Dobberstein had two hits apiece, with one each by Daxter Lee and Jace Ihrke. Phillips scored twice. Dobberstein drove in three runs.
"Jackson Chrz came in in relief and shut the door," said Coach Lee.
The Panthers hosted Triton in a nonconference game Tuesday, May 9 and took a 4-1 victory.
"It was not our best hitting game, but our pitching was awesome," said
Coach Lee. Chrz started and was impressive,
throwing 68 pitches in six innings while allowing one run on three hits, with seven strikeouts and a walk. Freshman Jared Lee closed it out in the seventh with 20 pitches.
The Panthers again set the tone early, scoring all four of their runs in the first two innings.
Chrz helped his own cause by going 3-for-3 at the plate. Daxter Lee was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Dobberstein had a hit and drove in a run. Phillips scored twice.
The bats were on fire as the Panthers whitewashed Southland 12-2 at Adams Monday, May 8.
"It was a good night at the plate for the Panthers," said Coach Lee.
Ethan Thompson blasted the Panthers' first home run of the year, a two-run shut. The next inning, Olson hit NRHEG's second homer, a grand slam.
Olson finished 2-for-2 and scored
three times. Daxter Lee was 2-for-4 with two runs. Thompson, Dobberstein, Carter Martens, Chrz and Jared Lee had one hit apiece. Phillips walked three times, as did Dobberstein. Daxter Lee stole four bases.
Olson was very solid in the mound, pitching all seven innings while yielding one earned run on three hits, with six strikeouts and four walks.
The Panthers improved their record to 9-2 and trail only USC in the conference standings. They were scheduled to play Tuesday, May 16 at USC.