Photo by Lee Epps
Seven days after closing the school baseball season, the Spring Grove boys launched their summer Legion schedule with an 8-4 home win over Lanesboro on June 10. The Burros out-hit the Lions 13 to 5, but the Grove guys did not get as many good pitches to hit, reaching base 12 times with walks. Meanwhile Lion pitchers, starter Jaxon Strinmoen and reliever Isaac Griffin, walked only two Burro batters. Three batters for each team reached base on an error. Strinmoen was credited with the pitching win while Griffin closed out the victory by striking out 11 of the 13 batters he faced.
Eight Lanesboro batters had base hits, but the Burros left the bases loaded in three of the first four innings. The first two batters of the game, Wilson Storhoff and Dillon O’Connor, both scored to give Lanesboro a quick 2-0 lead But the Lions answered with a seven-run second inning with only one hit but bolstered by six walks and two errors.
Designated hitter Caleb Griffin (2 for 4) had two of the five Spring Grove hits and was robbed of another hit by a superb grab in centerfield. The big blow was a triple from Ty Cleven to lead off the third inning. He would score the final run of the game as neither team crossed home plate during the final three and half innings.
The defensive gem for Spring Grove was an inning-ending play by shortstop Nathan Solberg in the third inning. The Burros had two outstanding outfield catches, robbing Strinmoen and Caleb Griffin of base hits.
The Lion Legion lineup is nearly identical to the school roster. During the school season, Lanesboro shares with Fillmore Central, but the Burros field their own Legion team. This was the summer season opener for both squads.
SG 8, LHS 43
LHS 202 000 0 = 4 13 3
SG 071 000 x = 8 5 3
Left on base: SG 11, LHS 13
Stolen bases: SG 6, LHS 1
SG hits 5 hits (4 singles, 1 triple): Nathan Solberg 1-3, run, steal; Ty Cleven 1-3, triple, run; Caleb Griffin 2-4, RBI, run, steal
LHS 13 hits (12 singles, 1 double):
PITCHING – SG: WP-Strinmoen 1-0
Jaxon Strinmoen 3.1 IP, 11 hits, 8 runs, 3 earned runs, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts
Isaac Griffin 3.2 IP, 2 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 13 strikeouts
PITCHING – LHS: – LP – Holmen
Ryan Holmen 1.2 IP, 1 hit, 7 runs, 2 earned runs, 7 walks, 0 strikeouts
Dillon O’Connor 4.1 IP, 4 hits, 1 run, 1 earned run, 5 walks, 5 strikeouts
Records: SG 1-0, LHS 0-1
SG LINEUP: p Jaxon Strinmoen, c Ezra Griffin, 1b Ty Cleven, 2b Jonah Udstuen, ss Nathan Solberg, 3b Brandon Jahnke, lf Zach Brumm, cf Isaac Griffin, rf Logan Brumm & Jacob Olerud, courtesy runner Jacob Olerud