HIBBING—Walking batters was a big point of emphasis after Monday, when Hibbing VFW pitchers walked 17 hitters in 13 innings.
Post 1221 co-coach Tim Zubich was hoping that was in the rearview mirror, but it reared its head again.
Hibbing pitchers walked five batters in the first three innings and Rock Ridge took advantage of that with eight runs, but they had to hold on for an 8-7 victory Wednesday at Al Nyberg Field.
Hibbing pitcher Blake Kolden walked the first three Post 1172 batters to fill the bases.
Kolden got a strikeout, then Jake Coombe hit an RBI groundout. Blake Bailey followed with an RBI infield single to make it 2-0.
Jackson Lamppa lined a single to center field to make it 3-0.
Those walks came back to haunt Post 1221.
“We got our bats going, and we got a couple of breaks,” Rock Ridge coach Paul Coombe said. “We had some speed on the bases, and that helps out by scoring some runs.”
Hibbing needed to respond, and the inning got off on the right foot when Brayden Rewertz walked and stole second. He took third on a wild pitch.
Kaden Augustine walked to put runners on first and third, then Blake Riccio hit an RBI groundout to make it 3-1.
Easton Fisher was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second with two out, but Rock Ridge pitcher Blake Bailey got out of the jam by getting a lineout to center field.
The second inning didn’t start out well for Kolden as he walked Rory Scuffy to start the inning.
Scuffy took second on an errant pickoff throw, then he went to third when Cal Scott flied out.
It looked like Kolden might work his way out of the inning, but Conner Saxhaug singled home a run, Aiden Bird doubled home a run to make it 5-1.
Jake Coombe singled, and when his ball was misplayed for an error in right field, Bird scored to make it 6-1.
Post 1221 got their first hit in the second, a single by Hunter Gustavsson, but Bailey left runners stranded on first and second to keep that five-run lead intact.
Another walk started a Post 1172 rally in the third.
Kaz Carlson drew the base on balls, then Scuffy singled. Owen Halling doubled to right-center field, scoring Carlson and ending Kolden’s day on the mound.
Scott laid down a safety squeeze bunt to score Scuffy to make it 8-1.
“That was a big part of their three innings they scored in,” Zubich said. “We walked the bases loaded, and when they had guys in scoring position, they clutched up, got hits and scored guys.
“We stranded a whole bunch.”
To the tune of 13 runners left on base.
“That was frustrating,” Zubich said. “We didn’t have good approaches at the plate. With zero strikes, we’re swinging at bad pitches, and not even putting a good swing on it. We’ve been preaching it. We’ve been talking about it, working on it, hitters counts.
“Sometimes, hits are going to fall, but at least go up there and put a good swing on it. Defensively, they played well. Their starting guy kept us off balance early. We couldn’t barrel up a lot of balls. Tip your hat to them. They pitched well.”
Post 1221 pulled a little closer in the third as Bailey walked Augustine, then an errant pickoff attempt sent him to second.
Blake Ricco singled Augustine to third, then after a flyout, Aiden Davey laid down a bunt single to make it 8-2.
After that Kolden reached on an error, which scored Riccio to make it 8-3.
Gavin Lamphere walked to load the bases with one out, but Hibbing couldn’t clutch up with the big hit as Bailey got a strikeout and groundout to end the threat.
In the Hibbing fourth, Augustine and Riccio drew out-out walks, ending Bailey’s day on the mound.
Bird came in and picked off Post 1221’s runner on second, then he walked Fisher and Davey to load the bases.
Bird got the next hitter to ground out to end the threat.
Post 1221 got another rally going in the fifth as Dylan Vesel singled, then Rewertz and Tait Swanson both walked to end Bird’s time on the mound.
Coombe came on in relief and walked Augustine to force home a run to make it 8-4.
Riccio hit a fielder’s choice ground ball to make it 8-5.
With runners on first and second and two out, Fisher walked to fill the bases.
Davey hit a hard shot up the middle, which was stopped by a diving Scott, but he couldn’t come up with the throw, allowing Augustine to score.
Kolden drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 8-7.
Coombe got the final out on a groundout.
“I thought our pitchers, for the most part, pitched well,” Coombe said. “Blake started off well. He’s always a good pitcher. Aiden came in and had a couple of innings and pitched well.
“Jake came in at the end and did his job.”
Post 1221 had missed out on an opportunity to at least tie the game, if not take the lead in the sixth.
Rewertz doubled with one out, then Swanson walked. They took second and third on a passed ball.
Augustine was intentionally walked to fill the bases, but Coombe got a lineout and strikeout to keep his team up by a run.
In the seventh, Coombe got two strikeouts and a groundout to end the game.
“We gutted that one out,” Coombe said. “(Jake) had a lot of help from his buddies. They pick him, and they don’t let him get down on himself. That was big for us, but the kids are with him. They pick him and carry him.”
For Hibbing, it was a matter of too many missed opportunities.
“We need that clutch hit,” Zubich said. “We want somebody to step up and drive in some guys. I think it’ll come, but it didn’t happen today.”
Kolden worked 2.1 innings, allowing seven hits. He struck out three and walked five. Lamphere tossed 4.2 innings, allowing two hits. He struck out three and walked three.
Bailey worked 3.1 innings, allowing three hits. He struck out four and walked six. Bird worked .2 innings, giving up one hit, but he walked four. Coombe worked four innings. He gave up four hits. He fanned three and walked five.
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