July 1, 2012 - Belle Plaine, MN --- After 7 straight losses to the bats and gloves of the Belle Plaine Tigers, the Chanhassen Red Birds finally found a way to beat their Division rivals. The Red Birds held on for a 5-4 win over the Tigers, leaving the bases loaded with Tigers in the bottom of the ninth inning at Tiger Park on Sunday Night. Justin Thompson pitched 8 strong innings, relived by Nate Swenson in the 9th, and Justin Kurth came on with the bases loaded and one out to get the final two outs and SAVE the victory for the Red Birds.

Belle Plaine got the scoring started with a single from All-Star SS Brad Lawson in the 2nd inning. After advancing to 2nd on a fielder's choice grounder to short, Lawson scored on a single to left by 2B Dylan Nyberg. 1-0, Tigers after 2 innings.

In the top of the 5th, the Red birds woke up their bats. A walk to Kurt Jantscher, followed by a single by Nate Swenson put 2 Red Birds on. Kyle Kemble then laced a single to right field to score Jantscher from 2nd. Swenson and Kemble advance a base on the wild throw to home. With two men in scoring position, T.J. Gulden then lined a single down the 3rd base line that scored Nate Swenson easily and Kyle Kemble slid under the tag (and then over .. really it was more like a gymnastic move) to score the 3rd run of the inning. John Gulden laced a single between 3B and SS and John Gulden was waved home and was put out easily on the throw to the catcher. 3-1, Red Birds.

In the bottom of the 5th, with one out, Tigers Pinch-hitter, Jimmy Buesgens lined a single to right field. Mia Fogarty then bounced a grounder to 2nd that handcuffed TJ Gulden and prevented a tailor made double play. With Tigers on 1st and 2nd, lead-off batter, Travis Latzke grounded to SS Nate Swenson, but his throw to 2nd was wide of the mark and went into left field and Tyler Hartman (running for Buesgens) scored easily on the error, with Fogarty heading to third base. C Pat Schultz then lined a single to right to score Fogarty to make the score 3-3 after 5 innings.

David Naughtin opened the 6th inning drawing a walk from Tiger starter Zac Dahlke. Zach Swenson's perfectly executed sacrifice bunt put Naughtin at 2nd. Justin Thompson launched a fly to right field that was misplayed by RF Tyler Hartman and Naughtin got 3rd on the play. With Kurt Jantscher batting, Thompson drew a pickoff throw from Dahlke that skipped away from the 1st baseman, and Naughtin trotted across home plate while Thompson ended up on 2nd.  Jantscher struck out to bring up Nate Swenson. Swenson didn't disappoint as he lined a single into center field that plated Thompson from 2nd for the 5th Red Bird run. Swenson was thrown out by the catcher trying to advance to 2nd after Thompson scored. 5-3, Red Birds after 6 innings.

The game continued quietly until Nate Swenson took the mound for the Red Birds in the bottom of the 9th inning. Swenson got Dylan Nvberg on a called 3rd strike and the Red Bird fans (almost 30) were buoyed with anticipation after two consecutive nights of nail-biting in the 9th inning. Then, a walk, a hit batter and another walk, put Tigers on all the bases with only one out. Manager pulled Nate Swenson and looked to Justin Kurth for the "extinguisher". Pat Schultz hit a Kurth fastball to center field for a sacrifice fly that scored Tyler Hartman with the 4th Tiger run. With two outs, Tiger 3B Dan Huber drew a walk to load the bases AGAIN.

Tiger DH Ryan Diers worked the count to full and with the entire Red Bird faithful in the prayer position, Diers lifted a fly ball to right field that, just as the night before against the Glencoe Brewers, settled nicely into Kyle Kemble's glove for the final out and the MUCH ANTICIPATED VICTORY over the Tigers.

Nate Swenson was 2-4, scoring a run and getting the eventual game winning RBI. T.J. Gulden got a hit and two RBI's in the 3-run fifth inning for the Red Birds. Kyle Kemble had a single, and RBI and scored a run in 5 plate appearances. David Naughtin continued his plate duty with his 5th hit in the last three games, and scored in the 6th inning.

Justin Thompson got his 2nd win and held the tigers to just 1 earned run on 6 hits and 2 walks, while striking out 4 batters. he also helped himself by getting a double play by catching a sharp line drive and doubling a runner off 1st base to snuff a mini-rally in the 3rd by the Tigers. The All-Star pitcher lowered his team leading ERA to just 1.29 and dropped his Opponents Batting Average to .158.

Next Game for the Red Birds is on 4th of July at 6:00 PM at Storm Red Bird Stadium for the Annual Celebration game against the St. Louis Park "A" team. Game time is 6:00 PM. All Military and Veterans get FREE ADMISSION. Come join the fun at America's pastime, "Chanhassen Red Bird Style".

Previous Losses to Belle Plaine -

June 26, 2010 ...  5 - 0

June 27, 2010 ... 2 - 1

July 31, 2010 ... 11 - 1 (RVL Playoff)

June 17, 2011 ... 6 - 4

July 10, 2011 ... 6 - 5

July 30, 2011 ...  2 - 1 (RVL Playoff)

August 7, 2011 ... 3 - 0  (Section 6 playoff)

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