The Isanti Redbirds were the only local Town Ball team to see action this past week. And boy, were they busy.
The Redbirds won twice during the week before finishing with a tough one-run loss to Ramsey on Sunday, July 7.
The Redbirds opened the week with a 5-2 non-league home victory over Shoreview on Tuesday, July 2.
Brent Tholen led the offense with two hits, one of which was a two-run homer, and was robbed of a second potential homer. Packy Lind added two doubles for the Redbirds.
Tholen also earned the victory on the mound, surrendering just three hits and one unearned run while striking out four in four innings.
Isanti returned to Eastern Minny League action on Saturday, July 6, and claimed a tight 2-1 victory over Quamba.
The star for the Redbirds was left-hander Phil Bray, who threw a complete-game five-hitter and struck out 12 while walking only two.
The lone Quamba run scored when a pop-up that fell between three players allowed a runner to reach base with a single — and was followed by an RBI double off the fence in left.
“Not only did Phil pitch well, but he demands that our team behind him executes,” manager Steve Allen said. “He’s demanding of himself, too. If we don’t do things right, he doesn’t get down on teammates, but he holds them accountable.”
Fortunately, the Redbirds did execute well on offense, scratching out single runs in the second and third to claim the win.
In the second inning Matt Duong walked, moved to second on a sacrifice, then raced home on an RBI single by Eli Nelson.
Then in the third Tyler Gustafson singled, stole second, moved to third on a groundout before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Lind.
“We didn’t have our big hitters here, and some guys were under the weather,” Allen said. “But our younger players came through when they needed to.”
Unfortunately, the Redbirds saw their modest three-game winning streak snapped with a 4-3 loss to Ramsey the next day.
James Green was the hard-luck loser on the mound as an error led to two unearned runs for the Renegades. Green gave up seven hits, including a home run, but fanned nine hitters in 5.2 innings.
Duong pitched well in relief, allowing just one hit while collecting two whiffs in the final 3.2 innings.
But Isanti’s offense collected just seven singles and scored single runs in the fourth, seventh and ninth innings to fall just short. Connor Braaten had three of those hits and also drew a walk to make him the only Redbird to reach base more than once.
The Redbirds will play three road games this week, starting with a contest against Princeton on Wednesday, July 10, that was not completed at press time.
On Friday, July 12, Isanti travels to Chisago Lakes for a contest that will not count in the league standings. Two days later the Redbirds will meet up in Ogilvie for a game against the Orioles.
The North Branch Nighthawks will be busy this week, with five games in six days. The week began with a contest at St. Francis on Tuesday, July 9, that was not completed at press time.
The Nighthawks return to action against East Bethel on Thursday, July 11, in a game that will be played at St. Francis. Then on Saturday, July 13, North Branch will travel to Chisago Lakes for a doubleheader that will begin at noon.
The next day the Nighthawks will return home to host Elk River in a 1 p.m. start.
The Rum River Bandits, who played two games that were not completed at press time, will be almost as busy in the coming week, playing five times in seven days.
The Bandits’ games on Monday, July 8, at Princeton and Wednesday, July 10, at home against Ogilvie did not finish in time to be included in this week’s paper.
Rum River continues its busy week with a Friday, July 12, home contest against Nowthen starting at 7 p.m. at Larson Field in Cambridge. The next day the Bandits will host Twin Ports in a non-conference contest starting at 1 p.m.
Then on Sunday, July 14, Rum River will return to Eastern Minny play with a game at Mora. The following Tuesday the Bandits will take on Hinckley, then play at St. Francis the following day.
The Braham Snappers will play two road games this weekend, starting with a contest at Ogilvie on Saturday, July 13. The next day the Snappers will play at Chisago Lakes.
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