Spring Grove used timely hitting while scoring five of its six runs after two outs to earn a 6-2 win and season sweep of visiting Grand Meadow/LeRoy-Ostrander/Kingsland (GMLOK) on April 28. Sophomore Brandon Jahnke was again the winning pitcher as he was in the previous victory versus the Bulldogs.
Photo by Lee Epps
Jahnke allowed only two hits during four innings before three other Spring Grove hurlers allowed no hits while shutting out the Bulldogs during the final three frames. After Caleb Griffin struck out two and walked none during two innings on the mound, sophomore Ben Udstuen (2 strikeouts, no walks) earned the pitching save during one inning of relief.
Most runners for both teams reached base with walks, but Spring Grove cashed in by out-hitting the visitors, 7 to 2. The game’s first six runs (SG 4, GMLOK 2) were all scored by players who had walked. Junior Elijah Solum batted 2 for 4 with a double, the only extra-base hit of the game. The first timely hit came in the bottom of the first with the Lions trailing 1-0. First came two outs, followed by three walks before sophomore Zach Brumm singled home two runs.
After GMLOK had pulled even at 2-2 in the third inning, the Lions replied quickly. After Jahnke walked, courtesy runner Caleb Ranzenberger stole second base, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on an error (SG 3, GMLOK 2). Then Brumm walked and swiped second base before scoring on a two-out RBI-single from Nathan Solberg to put Grove ahead, 4-2.
Brumm’s fourth-inning sacrifice fly increased his RBI total to three for a 5-2 lead. The final run came in the sixth inning with Jahnke reaching base with a single and scoring on a two-out single by Udstuen.
Both Bulldog runs were unearned. A walk, wild pitch and passed ball helped GMLOK take a 1-0 lead on a Conner Tangen RBI single. The visitors’ second run scored on a Lion error. Spring Grove was able to overcome two later errors.
At times, Spring Grove proved great with the glove. Second baseman Udstuen retreated into right field to make an outstanding overhead catch. First baseman Jaxon Strinmoen made a quick, athletic stop of a ground ball before tossing to pitcher Caleb Griffin for an out at first base. Sophomore catcher Ezra Griffin threw out two base runners, and senior pitcher Caleb Griffin picked off a runner at first base and threw out a runner attempting to steal home.
This game was far more competitive than the Lions’ season-opening 15-4, run-rule win at Spring Valley, during which the Bulldogs had seven errors. GMLOK had only one error in the rematch. Spring Grove improved to 4-1 (4-1 SEC) while the Bulldogs returned home at 1-7 (1-5 SEC).
The Lion B-team (2-2-2), which had defeated Houston earlier in the week, 8-5, added a 4-2 win versus GMLOK.
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SG 6, GMLOK 2
GMLOK 101 000 0 = 2 – 2 – 1
SG 202 101 x = 6 – 7 – 3
LOB: SG 11, GMLOK 5
Stolen bases: SG 6, GMLOK 7
SG 7 hits (1 double, 6 singles): Elijah Solum 2-4, dbl; Zach Brumm 1-2, 3 RBI, run, steal; Brandon Jahnke 1-2, run; Nathan Solberg 1-4, RBI, steal; Ben Udstuen 1-4, RBI; Caleb Griffin 1-4, run, steal.
GMLOK 2 hits (2 singles)
Pitching SG: Brandon Jahnke (winning pitcher) 4 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 4 K, 5 W: Caleb Griffin 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2K, 0 W; Ty Cleven 0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 K, 2 W; Ben Udstuen (save) 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 K, 0 W
Pitching GMLOK: 2 pitchers, 7 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 5 K, 8 W
Records: SG 4-1 (4-1 SEC); GMLOK 1-7 (1-5 SEC)
SG LINEUP: p Jahnke, c Ezra Griffin, 1b Jaxon Strinmoen, 2b Ben Udstuen, ss Nathan Solberg, 3b Caleb Griffin, lf Zach Brumm, cf Elijah Solum, rf Bryce Berns, dh Logan Brumm, cr Caleb Ranzenberger & Jacob Solum.
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Spring Grove Baseball 2023 (SEC games in bold)
>>4-1 (4-1 SEC)
W at GMLOK 15-4
W vs. Houston 10-2
Mon. 4-17 Wabasha-Kellogg, postponed to May 8
L at Southland 4-5
Fri. 4- 21 (at Austin) Blooming Prairie, canceled
Mon. 4-24 Rushford-Peterson, canceled
W vs. Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons 14-4
W vs. GMLOK 6-2
Sat. 4-29 (at Minneapolis) Martin County West, canceled
Mon. 5-01 at Lyle/Pacelli (Austin)
Tues. 5-02 Mabel-Canton
Thur. 5-04 at Mabel-Canton
Fri. 5-05 Lyle/Pacelli
Mon. 5-08 Wabasha-Kellogg
Tues. 5-09 at Houston
Fri. 5-12 Southland
Sat. 5-13 at Rushford Invitational
10 a.m. vs. Hayfield
noon vs. Goodhue
Tues. 5-16 Kenyon-Wanamingo
Fri. 5-19 Fillmore Central/Lanesboro
Mon. 5-22 at Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons
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B-Team Baseball
>>2 wins, 2 losses, 2 ties
L at Caledonia 4-14
T at GMLOK 3-3
L vs. Houston 3-6
T at Southland 0-0
W vs. Houston 8-5
W vs. GMLOK 4-2
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Junior High Baseball
>>3 wins, 5 losses
L vs. Mabel-Canton
L vs. Mabel-Canton
L vs. GMLOK
W vs. GMLOK
L vs. Houston
L vs. Houston
W vs. GMLOK
W vs. GMLOK