July 4, 2012 – Storm Red Bird Stadium.  The Chanhassen Red Birds hosted the St. Louis Park “A” team to bring an end to the Community-Wide Fourth of July celebration tonight.   Both teams showed stamina and energy in the sweltering 95 plus degree heat and put on a great show for the multitude gathered.

St. Louis Park prevailed 9-7 over the Red Birds with hitting the order of the day. Justin Kurth started pitching for the Red Birds and took the loss, and Jared Carlson for Park got the win, with a save earned by reliever, John Gallice.   

Park got on the board in the first inning with an opening walk to RF Chris Duda. Singles by Mike Arlt, Casey Garven and Mark Hronski pushed two runs across.

In the bottom of the second, David Naughtin opened the inning with a grounder to SS Tyler Hudson but the throw was high and Naughty was safe.  The Red Birds then followed with doubles by Zach Swenson (off the top of the right field fence), Justin Thompson, and Nate Swenson, for a 3-2 Red Bird lead after two innings.

In the top of the 3^rd, Mike Arlt reached first on an infield error.  Kurth then worked to a full count on C Jack Goihl.  Kurth then got Goihl to swing at a third strike, and Thompson gunned out Arlt trying to steal second for a “Strike ‘im out, Throw ‘im out” double play.

In the bottom of the 3^rd, John Gulden singled to right field.  With two outs, Zach Swenson launched a fly ball to the same part of right-center that he had hit the double in the previous inning.  This time, the ball carried far over the fence for a two run homer, and a 5-2 lead for the Red Birds.

In the top of the 5^th inning, Park took the lead back with a walk and 3 hits, including a 3-run homer from Mike Arlt, and three costly Red Bird errors to score 5 runs, and lead 7-5.

In the bottom half of the 5^th, Nate Swenson opened with a single up the middle.  Mike Cerjance then singled down the line to right field.  Jeff Pavlovich hit a sacrifice fly to center that moved Swenson to third base.   Kyle Kemble then delivered a timely single to center to drive in Swenson from third base.  Park leads, 7-6 after 6 innings.

In the top of the 8^th inning, with Nate Swenson in relief of Chan starter Justin Kurth, Casey Garven opened with a single to center field.  Joe Pierce then lined a ball to left field that looked like it would curve foul, but the ball hit the left field foul pole for a 2-run homer to give Park a 9-6 lead.

In the bottom of the 8^th, John Gallice relieved park starter, Jared Carlson.  Nate Swenson reached on an infield error, and Mike Cerjance and Jeff Pavlovich each drew full count walks off Gallice.   With the bases loaded and nobody out, the Red Bird fans were ready for a breakout inning.  Kyle Kemble bounced a grounder to short that the Park infield turned for a double play that scored Swenson from third, but took a lot of energy from the Red Birds.  John Gulden ended the inning with a fly ball to left field and the scoring was over for both teams.  9-7, Park on top.

Zach Swenson finished the game 2-3 with a homerun, double scoring twice and getting 3 RBI’s; brother Nate, was 2-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. 

Justin Kurth allowed 4 earned runs on 7 hits, 3 walks, 2 hit batters, and getting 3 strike outs.  Nate Swenson worked two innings, and Steve Sorenson worked a scoreless 9^th inning for the Red Birds.

For Game Stats - click on  SCHEDULE to the left.

The Red Birds and Park gave the fans a good show for the Fourth of July with anticipation of next year’s game already in place.

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