Gophers Baseball Notches Wins Over “Runners Up”

Chatfield baseball had a good week, posting two wins over teams that were section runners-up last season. In a rematch of last year’s 1AA-East title game, the Gophers trailed PEM 4-0 after the Bulldogs’ second inning only for Chatfield to have a seven-run sixth to lead 10-4. The inning saw the Gophers with just three hits, but they benefitted from two PEM walks, two errors, a wild pitch, and hit-batsmen. Brian Baum’s group prevailed 10-6, as only three of their runs were earned. Seniors Luke Carrier (5 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, No Decision) and Drew Schindler 2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, Win) handled the pitching. Carrier (2-3, 2B, RBI) also scored thrice. Jack Dornack (2-4, two 2B, RBI), Kail Schott (2-3, 2 RBI, R), and Drew O’Connor (1-4, 2B) also had big hits. The Gophers then hosted Perham, which came south for the better climate and non-snow-covered fields. The Gophers jumped out 5-0 after two, only for Yellowjackets to close to down 5-4 after four. Ben Schumansky and Gage Aanenson hit back-to-back solo home runs in the third for Perham. A Dornack sac fly RBI and Schott RBI-single gave Chatfield insurance runs in the fifth to make it 7-4. Schindler got a strikeout with the bases loaded in the sixth and another with runners on the corners in the seventh to clinch the win. Chatfield prevailed 7-4. Schindler (2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K) wrapped up the pitching duties with a save. O’Connor (3 1/3 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K) got the no-decision start. Caden Boyum (1 2/3 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K) was the winning pitcher. O’Connor (2-2, RBI), Carter Daniels (2-4, 2B, 2 R), Ryan Nosbisch (1-3, 2 RBI), Schott (1-1, RBI), and Carrier (1-4, RBI, R) had key hits. PEM (1AA, 17-9) and Perham (8AA, 24-3) were each section bridesmaids last year. Chatfield improved to 2-0, 3-0.