Lion boys extend winning streak against Houston, 4-1

Brandon Jahnke pitched a complete game, allowing no earned runs, as Spring Grove won, 4-1, at Houston on May 10. For the second straight game, the Lions won despite having the fewest hits. Out-hit 4-2, Spring Grove took advantage of nine free passes (eight walks, one hit batter). All four Hurricane hits came in different innings, and they needed an Lion error to score their lone run.

The teams combined for only six hits, all singles. For Spring Grove, Jaxon Strinmoen and Nathan Solberg each reached base with both a single and a walk. Strinmoen stole third base twice and scored each time, the Lions’ first and third runs. Three of Grove’s four runs were scored by players who walked or was hit by a pitch. And Houston’s only run was scored by a player who drew a base on balls. Houston catcher Maddox Rodriguez batted 2 for 3, the only batter with more than one hit.

The third-place Lions improved to 8-3 (7-3 SEC), completing a season sweep of the fourth-place Hurricanes (5-8, 3-2 SEC). Unlike the quick early lead in that previous 10-2 win, the Grove guys waited until the fourth inning to break a scoreless tie. Strinmoen singled, went to second base on an outfield error and stole third base before scoring on a wild pitch. Elijah Solum was hit by a pitch and eventually scored on a sacrifice bunt by Zach Brumm to make it 2-0.

Houston got one run back in the bottom of the inning with a walk, a single and an error. Down 2-1 after five innings, the ‘Canes were retired in order by Jahnke the rest of the way. Spring Grove added an insurance run in both the sixth and seventh innings – both times without a hit – each time with a pair of walks and stolen bases. Strinmoen scored on a ground out, and Jacob Solum became the second Lion to slide safely home on a wild pitch.

Since Spring Grove revived the stand-alone baseball program in 2016, the Lions have won all 14 games against Houston. The Hurricanes won the B-team game, 6-1, and both junior high games.

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SG 4, Houston 1
SG    000  201  1 = 4–2–2
Hou  000  010  0 = 1–4–1
LOB: SG 5, Hou 6
Stolen bases: SG 5, Hou 2
SG 2 hits (2 singles): Nathan Solberg 1-2; Jaxon Strinmoen 1-3, 2 runs, 3 steals
Hou 4 hits (4 singles): Maddox Rodriguez 2-3
Pitching SG: Brandon Jahnke 7 IP, 4H, 1 R, 0 ER, 4 W, 6K, win
Pitching Hou: Lawrence Traun 6 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 6 W, 1 HB, 3 K, loss; Carter Geiwitz 1 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 W, 0 K
Records: SG 8-3 (7-3 SEC); Hou 5-8 (3-4 SEC)
SG LINEUP: p Brando Jahnke, c Ezra griffin, 1b Jaxon Strinmoen, 2b Nathan Solberg, ss Ben Udstuen, 3b Ty Cleven. lf Bryce Berns, cf Zach Brumm, rf Braedon Solie, dh Elijah Solum, ph Jacob Solum, cr Caleb Griffin & Logan Brumm

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Spring Grove Baseball 2023 (SEC games in bold)
>>8-3 (7-3 SEC)
W at GMLOK 15-4
W vs. Houston 10-2
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
L at Lyle/Pacelli 1-3
W vs. Mabel-Canton 7-6
W at Mabel-Canton 12-5
L vs. Lyle/Pacelli 0-7
W vs. Wabasha-Kellogg 7-3
W at Houston 4-1
Fri. 5-12          Southland
Sat. 5-13          vs. Goodhue 12 noon (at Rushford Tournament)

1. Hayfield or Rushford-Peterson

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
>>4 wins, 4 losses, 3 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
L at Lyle/Pacelli 4-7
W vs. Mabel-Canton 4-2
W at Mabel-Canton 9-0
T vs. Lyle/Pacelli 10-10
L at Houston 1-6

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Junior High Baseball
>>3 wins, 11 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
L at Mabel-Canton
L at Mabel-Canton
L vs. Houston
L vs. Houston
L at Houston
L at Houston