SIXTH INNING MELTDOWN LEADS TO REDS LOSS 13-8

The Crookston Reds Amateur Baseball team built an early lead but in a disastrous sixth-inning allowed the Moorhead Miners to rally for eight runs and Moorhead would hold on to win 13-8. 

Owen Ellefson lead off the game with a deep fly ball to centerfield that was dropped by the centerfielder allowing Ellefson to scamper into third base.  Following a walk, Bailey Schmitz hit a sacrifice fly to right center to score Ellefson and put the Reds up 1-0.  The next batter would walk to put runners on first and second with one out but back-to-back groundouts ended the Reds threat.  Two of the first three batters walked and with one out the Reds had an opportunity to get out of the inning with a groundball, but second baseman Rob Silvers couldn't pick it up and the error loaded the bases.  Following a strikeout for the second out a wild pitch would bring home a run to tie the game 1-1 before a ground ball ended the Moorhead threat. 

The Reds would reclaim the lead in the fourth inning as Lars Brevik singled with one out and Schmitz reached on an error to put runners on first and second.  Silvers singled to center to score Brevik to make it 2-1.  A walk loaded the bases before an error brought home the second run of the inning to make it 3-1.  Following strikeout for the second out, Tanner Reinhart drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 4-1 Reds.  "We put together a really nice start to this ball game," said Silvers, the Reds Manager.  "The lineup was a lot of guys who are newer to the team, just got back this week or are very young and have been developing.  I like what I'm seeing out of us offensively." 

The Reds would extend their lead in the sixth inning as Blake Kawlewski lead off with a single to left field, Alex Wolfe was hit by a pitch and Tanner Reinhart singled to left center to load the bases with nobody out.  Alex LaFrance then lifted a sacrifice fly to left to score Kawlewski and make it 5-1.  The Reds still had runners on first and second with one away before a fielders choice and a strikeout ended the threat.  The Miners would get a run back in the bottom of the fifth as Scott Krenzel was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and the next batter Brayden Thompson doubled to left center to score Krenzel making it 5-2.  The next batter walked, but Reds pitcher Jackson Seibel was able to work out of the jam with back-to-back popouts and a strikeout. 

In the top of the sixth Schmitz lead-off with a single and Silvers lined the first pitch he saw to the centerfield wall for a standup RBI double making it 6-2.  Despite Silvers being on second with nobody out the Reds weren't able to muster any more offense as two batters struck out and Reinhart grounded out to third to end the inning. Things would unravel for the Reds in the bottom of the inning as the first batter walked followed by back-to-back singles to right to load the bases.  Krenzel would walk to bring home a run to make it 6-3, then Thompson hit a high chopper over the mound that Reinhart bobbled trying to make the throw to make it 6-4.  Seibel recorded a strikeout for the first out of the inning before a walk brought home another run to make it 6-5.  Justin Pietrick then doubled to left center scoring two to give Moorhead the lead 7-6, with runners on second and third and one out.  Justin Coste then doubled to left center scoring one to make it 8-6, while Pietrick was thrown out at the plate for trying to score from second for the second out of the inning. Ryan Krause followed that up with a triple to left center to make it 9-6 and would score on a passed ball to make it 10-6 before a groundout to short ended the inning.  "Right now our pitching has to be better," said Silvers. "We haven't thrown the ball consistently across the plate yet this season.  Last night was the best we'd done that and we beat a good team. But we can't give up 14 free passes between walks and hit batters and expect to win."

The Reds would get a run back in the top of the seventh inning when Alex LaFrance lead off with a single, stole second and moved to third on a base hit.  LaFrance would come home to score on a passed ball cutting the Moorhead lead to 10-7 before three straight Reds grounded out to end the inning.  Moorhead would get the run back in the bottom of the inning as Trenton Howe led off with a base hit to center and stole second.  Following groundout and a strikeout, he'd come home to score on an RBI single by Kyle Voltin making it 11-7.  

Moorhead would extend their lead in the eight with back-to-back to out singles by Krause and Ryan Fogel followed by a two-RBI double to left center by Krenzel to make it 13-7. The Reds ninth-inning rally would fall well short as Aaron Butcher lead off with a single and following a popout moved to third on a base hit to right by Schmitz.  Silvers would pick up an RBI groundout to short to make 13-8 before Jacob Butcher grounded out to first to end the game.  "We have the offense to win a lot of games," said Silvers. "Our Achilles heal thus far has been our defense and our throwing strikes.  We've committed 18 errors the past three games and given up 20 unearned runs in four games. We've also had too many free bases.  If we can get the defensive side of our game figured out we're going to be a tough team."

The Reds fall to 2-2 on the year and will return to the field with a home game Monday, June 3 against the Fargo Mets at 7:30 p.m. at Jim Karn Field.  Moorhead improves to 1-1.

For Crookston
Rob Silvers 2-5, 2B, 3 RBI, R
Bailey Schmitz 2-5, RBI, 2 R
Aaron Butcher 2-3, R