What a difference one year makes.  Last year, the Lakers ended their season with just six wins.  On Thursday night, Waconia equaled that total as they crushed St. Boni 13-3 in seven innings to move to 6-0 on the season.  Playing in a new conference with new players and coaches, the Lakers are playing like a team on a mission.

The Lakers took an early lead in bottom of the first inning, as Jeremy Salden drove in Chris Bullis with a sharp single.  After St. Boni tied the game in the top of the second, Waconia responded with two runs in the bottom half of the inning.  Nick Litfin doubled to lead off the inning, stole third, and then scored on a sacrifice fly to the second baseman by Pat Deering.  The Lakers took a 3-1 lead when Ben Smothers drilled an RBI single up the middle to score Riley Hansen.

Waconia all but put the game away in the 4^th inning, when they scored five runs.  Ronnie Olson came up with a big 2 run double to score Ben Smothers and Pat Deering.  After back to back walks to Bullis and Salden, Craig Laplante drove in two runs with a sharp single to right field.  The Lakers added two more runs in the fifth to take a commanding 10-3 lead.

 In the 7^th inning, the Lakers pushed across three runs to end the game by the ten run rule.  Robbie Smothers hit his first career walk-off hit, as he crushed a double over the center-fielder’s head. 

 Ronnie Olson, pitching for the first time since his sophomore year in high school, started the game for the Lakers.  He pitched three solid innings, giving up one earned one and striking out three batters.  Jesse Maistrovich pitched the remaining four innings, allowing just one run. 

 The Lakers host three games this week.  The East Side Merchants come to town Wednesday night, Green Isle on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. and Mayer on Sunday at 2:00 p.m.  Green Isle will be a tough test for Waconia.