Both teams had two base hits, but state-ranked No. 9 Southland took advantage of numerous charitable donations while claiming a share of the 2023 conference championship with a 5-0 road win on May 18 at third-place Spring Grove (8-7, 7-4 SEC). It was a fourth straight setback for the Lions, the last two against state-ranked competition. The Rebels improved to 12-2 (11-1 SEC) to share the SEC title with Lyle/Pacelli.
Photo by Lee Epps
It was an uncharacteristic day for the usually reliable Spring Grove pitching staff, which issued 19 get-on-base-free cards – 11 walks, four hit batters and four errors. Meanwhile, Rebel ace Riley Jax struck out 13 batters while issuing only four free passes – three walks, one hit batter.
Spring Grove sophomore catcher Ezra Griffin had one of his team’s two base hits and was dynamite on defense. He caught two foul balls and also with the bases loaded, he accounted for all three outs in the Rebel sixth inning with back-to-back unassisted put-outs at home plate and picking off a runner on second base.
Another defensive highlight also came with the bases loaded with Rebels. Second baseman Nathan Solberg fielded a ground ball, stepped on second base and fired the ball to first base for an inning-ending double play. That second-inning escape preserved a scoreless tie, but Southland would finally push across two runs in the next inning. The Rebels would add a run in each of the final three innings, each without a base hit.
Only the final two runs were earned runs. Despite allowing no earned runs, Spring Grove starter Brandon Jahnke (5 strikeouts, 5 walks) absorbed the pitching loss.
All four hits in the game were singles. Both Rebel hits came in the third inning, when combined with two Lion errors, produced two unearned runs for a 2-0 lead. Both Lion hits, by Jaxon
Strinmoen and Ezra Griffin, came during the scoreless fourth inning. In the sixth inning, the bases were loaded with Lions after two walks and the lone Rebel error, but Jax ended the threat with his 11th strikeout. Spring Grove left seven runners on base; Southland stranded twice that many. Rebels were left on base in every inning.
It was the Rebels’ sixth straight win versus Spring Grove, including a dramatic come-from-behind 5-4 walk-off decision earlier this season. The B-team game ended in a 2-2 tie; their earlier game at Adams was a scoreless tie. It was the fourth tie of the season for Lion B-team (5-5-4).
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SG 0, Southland 5
Sou. 002 011 1 = 5–2–1
SG 000 000 0 = 0–2–5
LOB: SG 7, Sou 14
Stolen bases: SG 2, Sou 2
SG 2 hits (2 singles): Jaxon Strinmoen 1-2, steal; Ezra Griffin 1-3.
Sou 2 hits (2 singles):
Pitching SG: Brandon Jahnke 4 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 5 W, 5 K, loss; Jaxon Strinmoen 2 IP, 0 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 HB, 4 W, 1 K; Ben Udstuen 1 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 HB, 2 W, 0 K
Pitching Sou: Riley Jax 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 HB, 3 W, 13
Records: SG 8-7 (7-4 SEC), Sou 12-2, (11-1 SEC)
SG LINEUP: p Brandon Jahnke, c Ezra Griffin, 1b Jaxon Strinmoen, 2b Nathan Solberg, ss Ben Udstuen, 3b Ty Cleven, lf Caleb Griffin, cf Zach Brumm, rf Braedon Solie, cr Logan Brumm, ph Logan Brumm, Gabe Klug, Jacob Solum
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Spring Grove Baseball 2023 (SEC games in bold)
>>8-7 (7-4 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
L vs. Goodhue (R-P Tourney) 2-3
L vs. Rushford-Peterson (R-P Tourney) 5-6
L vs. Kenyon-Wanamingo 1-2
L vs. Southland 0-5
Fri. 5-19 Fillmore Central/Lanesboro
Mon. 5-22 at Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons
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B-Team Baseball
>>5 wins, 5 losses, 4 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
L at La Crescent-Hokah 5-7
W vs. Kenyon-Wanamingo 6-5
T vs. Southland 2-2
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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
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