Spring Grove’s high-scoring win out west is 100th for Strinmoen

Spring Grove’s 21-10 baseball win at Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons on April 26 was the 100th career coaching win (55 at SG) for head coach Chris Strinmoen, However, only one of last week’s four scheduled games was played due to weather. Tuesday’s milestone win at AC/GE (temperatures in the 40s) was one day after temperatures in the 30s had forced postponement of a Monday non-conference contest versus Wabasha-Kellogg. Later in the week, a road trip to GMLOK and home date with Mabel-Canton both fell victim to rain and wet field conditions.

More games have been postponed than have been played, but the Lions have had stellar success when the elements allowed. Next, the May 2 game at Adams is an SEC showdown between the two league leaders – Spring Grove (4-0, 4-0 SEC) and Southland (5-0, 4-0 SEC). In what appears to be a three-team race, the lone loss for Lyle/Pacelli (4-1, 4-1 SEC) was a one-run setback at Spring Grove. The rematch at Austin is scheduled for May 6.

SG and AC/GE combined to leave 20 runners on base, but they still scored 31 runs – the most in a Lion game in 23 years – since 1999 when Spring Grove outscored Southland, 21-14. The visiting Lions exploded for eight runs before AC/GE came to bat.

“Today was a great win for various reasons,” said Coach Strinmoen. “We were able to jump out to a large lead right away with the bats. Any time you go on the road and have to bat first, you are hoping to score right away to give your pitcher and defense some confidence.”

After the home team cut the margin in half (8-4), Spring Grove erupted with a seven-run inning to make it 15-4. AC/GE answered with a five-run frame (15-9) but would get no closer. Winning pitcher, freshman Brandon Jahnke then slammed the door on the home team bats. not allowing a base hit during four and two-thirds innings of relief.

“We have to give AC/GE some credit,” added Strinmoen. “They just wouldn’t go away. Every time we put up a big number offensively, they always found a way to put up some runs of their own. Our pitching wasn’t really sharp early on, and our defense had some lapses that gave AC/GE some extra chances. But Brandon Jahnke really stepped up in his first varsity pitching appearance and closed it out for us. I was really happy to see him challenging their hitters and showing he can be an important piece to our pitching staff as the season progresses. We will have to count on him and others as we start to play practically every day the rest of the season, to get our games in.”

The defense also featured a leaping catch in centerfield by Elijah Solum and an unusual glove-only assist by Ben Udstuen. The freshman pitcher retreated between first and second base to snare a ground ball, and not having time to get the ball into his throwing hand and while still running, flipped the ball with his glove to first base just in time to get the out.

Ten different Lions scored. Eight of the nine Spring Grove batters had base hits and runs batted in, including three hits each from Ben Udstuen (3 for 4), Ezra Griffin (3 for 5), Caleb Griffin (3 for 5) and Jaxon Strinmoen (3 for 6). Solum (1 for 4) drove in four runs while Logan Brumm (1 for 4) and Nathan Solberg (1 for 3) each had three runs batted in.

The 16-hit attack included only two extra-base hits, doubles from Ezra Griffin and Logan Brumm. That provided ample opportunity for action on the base paths with the Lions swiping a dozen bases. Caleb Griffin was the chief thief with three stolen bases while Tysen Grinde, Braedon Solie, Solberg and Zach Brumm were each credited with two steals.

AC/GE had six hits (all singles) but received some help. Seven of the home team’s 10 runs were scored by players who received free passes (6 walks, 1 hit batter). Altogether, Lion pitchers contributed 14 free passes and AC/GE hurlers 10. Each team stranded runners on base in every inning.

AC/GE won the B-team game, 2-0.

In the series with AC/GE, the varsity Lions have now won seven straight and eight of the nine games played against the combined program. But before sharing with Alden-Conger, G-E alone won 15 and lost only five versus Spring Grove.

SG 21, AC/GE 10
SG       807  200  4  = 21  16  2
AC/GE 045  010  0  = 10   6   6
LOB : SG 9, AC/GE 11
Stolen bases: SG 12, AC/GE 3
SG 16 hits: (2 doubles, 14 singles) Ben Udstuen 3-for-4, RBI, 3 runs; Ezra Griffin 3-for-5, double, 2 RBI; Caleb Griffin 3-for-5, RBI, 4 runs, 3 steals; Jaxon Strinmoen 3-for-6, 2 RBI, run; Nathan Solberg 1-for-3, 3 RBI, 3 runs, 2 steals; Logan Brumm 1-for-4, double, 3 RBI,  run, sacrifice; Elijah Solum 1-for-4, 4 RBI, 2 runs, sacrifice, steal; Brandon Jahnke 1-for-5, 2 RBI, run; Tysen Grinde 3 runs, 2 steals; Braedon Solie run, 2 steals; Zach Brumm 2 runs
AC/GE 6 hits: (6 singles) Cole Knutson 2-for-3, RBI
Pitching SG: Jaxon Strinmoen 1 2/3 innings, 2 hits, 4 runs, 4 earned runs, 3 walks, 3 hit batters, 4 strikeouts
Ben Udstuen 1 inning, 4 hits, 5 runs, 5 earned runs, 3 walks, 1 strikeout
(WP) Brandon Jahnke 4 1/3 innings, 0 hits, 1 run, 0 earned runs, 5 walks, 4 strikeouts
AC/GE Pitching : (LP) Brady Lair 0 2/3 innings, 8 runs, 1 earned run, 0 walks, 1 strikeout
Kole Nelsen 1 1/3 innings, 2 hits 0 runs, 0 earned runs, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts
Lucas Henshe 4 innings, 7 hits, 11 runs, 7 earned runs, 6 walks, 3 strikeouts
Cole Knutson 1 inning, 1 hit, 2 runs, 2 earned runs, 2 walks, 1 hit batter, 0 strikeouts
Records: SG 4-0, 4-0 SEC; ACGE 2-3, 2-3 SEC
SG LINEUP: c Ezra Griffin, 1b Ben Udstuen, Jaxon Strinmoen, 2b Caleb Griffin, ss Nathan Solberg, 3b Brandon Jahnke, Caleb Griffin, lf Zach Brumm, cf Elijah Solum, rf Matthew Doering, (dh Logan Brumm, runner Braedon Solie, runner Tysen Grinde)

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Spring Grove Varsity Baseball 2022
4 wins, 0 losses (4-0 SEC)
(4:30 p.m. first pitch unless noted) * SEC game
W vs.  GMLOK* 5-1
W vs. Lyle/Pacelli*7-6
04-18 Cotter/Hope Lutheran, postponed
W vs. Houston* 12-2 (6 inn.)
Fri.      04-22 Schaeffer Academy* postponed
Mon.   04-25 Wabasha-Kellogg 5 p.m. postponed
W at Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons* 21-10
Fri.      04-29 at GMLOK* (at Spring Valley) postponed
Sat.      04-30   Mabel-Canton, postponed
Mon.   05-02 at Southland* (at Adams)
Tues.   05-03 at Mabel-Canton*
Fri.      05-06 at Lyle/Pacelli* (at Austin)
Mon.   05-09 Martin County West 5 p.m. (at Austin, Riverland College)
Tues.   05-10 at 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, 4 losses
L vs. GMLOK 2-5
L vs. Lyle/Pacelli 2-12
L vs. Houston 2-5
L at Alden-Conger/Glenville-Emmons 0-2