| 6/25/2008 3:00:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article | 39ers rough up 'new kid on the block'
Pat Ellwanger goes 2-for-2, 2 RBI and scores a run
District IV American Legion baseball has a new team - mostly of Cretin-Derham Hall baseball players - that formed for this season.
The Hamline Purple Hawks, not to be confused with the long-established Hamline Post 418 Hylanders, started with changes in some obsolete rules that have hampered expansion of District IV teams.
With their roster set, the Hawks came to Kuenkel Field to do battle with the North St. Paul Post 39 baseball nine on June 18.
In a well-played game under ideal conditions, the 39ers took advantage of their opportunities and handed the visitors a 6-2 setback.
Wielding a hot bat for the 39ers was Pat Ellwanger, who walked and scored a run, doubled and singled and drove in two runs to highlight the evening.
All but one of the 39ers' starting lineup garnered hits. Matt Puhl went 3-for-4 - two singles and double - at the plate.
On the mound for North St. Paul was Mark Dominik, who went the first six innings and pitched shutout ball. He gave up seven hits and one walk, but had eight strikeouts.
"It was a very good game for us," Dominik said after the contest. "It's good weather. It felt good. I was throwing strikes and the guys made some good plays behind me. We got the lead and the guys are hitting the ball pretty well right now. It was a good game for us."
North St. Paul manager Ron Adams agreed. "It was a good ball game. We got those six runs and kind of sat on them for a while. We may have gotten a bit lackadaisical. But overall we played well and it was an important win for us," he said.
From the Hawks perspective, manager Jim O'Neil said, "We're a little shy on pitching right now, but we hung in there pretty well. It is hard, we got down by those six runs, it makes it hard. We just couldn't find a way to get a timely hit when we needed one or two. North St. Paul is a good club and they swing the bats well through the whole lineup. You don't want to get that far behind. But we hit the ball as well, just not at the right time."
In the last of the first, Troy Larson led off with a single to left. He stole second and moved to third on an infield roller to the right side.
Number four hitter, Josh Olson delivered a sacrifice fly to right to make it 1-0 for the 39ers.
In the bottom of the second, Ellwanger worked a lead off walk. Forrest Murphy sent a sharp hit ball to the left side and was safe when the ball, in an attempt at a force, was thrown wide of second base.
Tyler Naughton then delivered a RBI double into left centerfield. Larson hit a slow roller to the left side and Murphy came home with what turned out to be the game-winner.
In the bottom of the third, Puhl led off with a sharp hit ball into left. Olson worked a walk and Ross Metcalf hit a slow roller to the left side. He beat the peg, but a throwing error at first allowed Puhl to race home.
Ellwanger stepped in and delivered a shot to right centerfield and ended up on second base as Olson and Metcalf scored to run the count to 6-0.
In the top of the seventh, the Hawks finally bunched some hits. Jon Kinsel led off with a single to left. A pop-up later, David Bettenburg knocked a single up the middle. Max Gregory hit a sharp single to left to score Kinsel. Vince Lulie then picked up a RBI when he singled and Bettenburg came home with the final score in the 6-2 North St. Paul triumph.
The win pushed the 39ers to 6-4 overall and 3-0 in District IV play.
The 39ers will next take on the Tri-City Red at 6 p.m. on June 25. On June 26, the 39ers will play a double header against the North End Parkers at 6 p.m., followed by an 8 p.m., contest against the Arcade Maroons.
June 29, the 39ers travel to meet the Hamline Hylanders 6 p.m., at Highland Park and return home to Kuenkel Field to face the Hamline Purple Hawks on July 1 at 8 p.m.
Then, in inter-league play, the District III Oakdale Mavericks invade Kuenkel Field for a 6 p.m.,scheduled game against the North St. Paul 39ers on July 2.
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