Spring Grove’s Caleb Griffin struck out 12 while allowing only two hits in six innings. On the mound, Jaxon Strinmoen struck out one in one inning of relief. At bat, he doubled and scored the tying run. And while playing first base, Strinmoen made the defensive play of the day for the Lions, who won their season, conference and home opener, 5-1, over Grand Meadow/LeRoy-Ostrander/Kingsland (GMLOK). Spring Grove led only 2-1 in the fifth inning before adding four runs during their final two innings at bat.
Photo by Lee Epps
“We got a great pitching performance out of Caleb Griffin,” said coach Chris Strinmoen. ”I expected the pitching to be ahead of the hitting this early in the season, but it’s still very important to throw strikes. Caleb threw 64% strikes, leading to 12 strikeouts and only 2 walks. We can win a lot of games if we pitch it that well.”
Jonah Udstuen hit 2 for 3 with a pair of runs batted in (RBI). Freshman catcher Ezra Griffin had the other Spring Grove double. Elijah Solum had the first base hit of the season while courtesy runner Tysen Grinde scored twice during his varsity baseball debut, including the team’s first run of the year.
“We were slow to get started offensively,” said Strinmoen, “but received some clutch hits from Jonah Udstuen (2 for 3, 2 RBIs). I knew if we were able to get some baserunners, we could get aggressive and put some pressure on their defense to make some throws. I think we did that with our baserunning.”
The Bulldogs had only two hits, both singles (Dustin Copley, Nick Fetterley RBI), but they came back-to-back along with a stolen base to take a 1-0 lead after two outs before Spring Grove came to bat. Trailing only 2-1 in the fifth inning, GMLOK had the tying run in scoring position when first baseman Strinmoen snuffed out the rally by racing to the fence and reaching over to snag a foul ball for the third out.
“Defensively, I was happy with what I saw,” added the coach. “We didn’t have too many opportunities, but I thought we made the plays we needed to. The biggest play may have been Jaxon’s catch down the first base line in foul territory. GMLOK had their top hitter (Dustin Copley) up with 2 runners on, and that catch got us out of the inning.”
In the bottom of that fifth inning, Caleb Griffin led off with a single, stole two bases and scored on an error to make it 3-1. The Lions added the last two insurance runs in the sixth with two hits (Ezra Griffin double and Udstuen single) followed by three straight walks.
Bulldog centerfielder Beau Wiersma made two diving catches to rob Lion freshmen Zach Brumm and Brandon Jahnke of base hits. Both grabs were run-savers, coming with two outs and Lion runners in scoring position.
Nick Fetterly, who took the pitching loss, struck out six and walked two while giving up two runs in four innings. The Lions got to reliever Sam Snitker for their final four runs.
“It was great to be back out on the field again,” said Strinmoen. “With the recent weather, we weren’t sure if it would happen or not, so we’re very happy to get the game in.”
GMLOK won the B-team game, 5-2/
Both head coaches have been voted Spring Grove Male Athlete of the Year – Strinmoen in 1996 and Dakotah Rostad in 2010. The Bulldogs lead the series, 5 wins to 2. The SEC rematch is scheduled on April 29 at Spring Valley.
SG 5, GMLOK 1
GMLOK 100 000 0 – 1
SG 010 112 X – 5
LOB: SG 8, GMLOK 7
Stolen bases: SG 5, GMLOK 3
SG 6 hits: (2 doubles, 4 singles) J. Udstuen 2-3, 2 RBI, run; Strinmoen 1-3, double, run; E. Griffin 1-2, double; C. Griffin 1-3, RBI, run, 2 sb; Solum 1-4, sb; Grinde 2 runs, sb; Solberg RBI
GMLOK 2 hits: (2 singles) Copley 1-3, run, 2 sb; Fetterly 1-3, RBI
Pitching SG: Caleb Griffin (WP) 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 12 K, 1 HB
…………………Strinmoen 1 IP, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 HB
Pitching GMLOK: Nick Fetterly (LP) 4 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
………………………… Sam Snitker 2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 2 K
Records: SG 1-0 (1-0 SEC); GMLOK 0-1 (0-1 SEC)
Series: GMLOK leads 3 to 2
SG LINEUP: p Caleb Griffin & Jaxon Strinmoen c Ezra Griffin, 1b Strinmoen & Ty Cleven, 2b Jonah Udstuen, ss Nathan Solberg, 3b Brandon Jahnke, lf Zach Brumm, cf Elijah Solum, rf Matthew Doering & Caleb Griffin, dh Logan Brumm, courtesy runner Tysen Grinde
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Spring Grove Varsity Baseball 2022
1 win, 0 losses (1-0 SEC)
(4:30 p.m. first pitch unless noted) * SEC game
W vs. GMLOK* 5-1
Tues. 04-05 Mabel-Canton* site changed from original schedule
Fri. 04-08 Lyle/Pacelli*
Tues. 04-12 at Houston*
Mon. 04-18 Cotter/Hope Lutheran
Fri. 04-22 Schaeffer Academy*
Mon. 04-25 Wabasha-Kellogg 5 p.m.
Tues. 04-26 at Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons*
Fri. 04-29 at GMLOK* (at Spring Valley)
Mon. 05-02 at Southland* (at Adams)
Tues. 05-03 at Mabel-Canton* site changed from original schedule
Fri. 05-06 at Lyle/Pacelli* (at Austin)
Mon. -05-09 Martin County West 5 p.m. (at Austin, Riverland College)
Tues. 05-10 Houston*
Fri. 05-13 Southland*
Sat. 05-14 at Rushford-Peterson Tourney, 10 a.m. or 12:30 p.m.
Sat. 05-14 at Rushford-Peterson Tourney, approx. 3 p.m. or 5:30 p.m.
Tues. 05-17 at Schaeffer Academy (Rochester)*
Thur. 05-19 Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons*
Fri. 05-20 at Fillmore Central/Lanesboro (at Preston)
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Spring Grove B-Team Baseball 2022
0 wins, 1 loss
L vs. GMLOK 2-5