Faribault Lakers drop pitchers' duel to New Prague 2-1

Behind eight innings of one run ball by starting pitcher James Fuerniss, the New Prague Orioles defeated the Faribault Lakers 2-1 on Sunday afternoon in New Prague at Memorial Park in DRS Baseball action.

Fuerniss and Faribault starter Joe Grote matched zeros in the first three innings, but New Prague got on the board in the fourth. After Fuerniss singled to lead of the inning, Dan Ring doubled to the left center gap to score Fuerniss. Grote recovered to strike out the next two batters before a walk and a fly out ended the Orioles rally.

Faribault struck back in the top of the fifth. Austin Rendler reached on a bobbled ground ball to the shortstop. Dylan O’Neil followed with the Lakers first hit of the game, a line drive single to left field. With one out Jordan Nawrocki singled to load the bases. Zander Fitzsimmons followed with a fly out to right field. Rendler scored as the New Prague right fielder tried to double Nawrocki off of first unsuccessfully instead of throwing home. The Lakers would load the bases later in the inning but were unable to further cash in.

Fuerniss was once again the catalyst for New Prague as they took back the lead in the sixth. Fuerniss led off with a single and stole second. With one out a Beau Plaisance bloop single advanced Fuerniss to third. Aiden Dorzinski followed with a sacrifice fly to plate Fuerniss to give the Orioles a 2-1 lead that proved to be the difference as neither team got a runner past second base in the last three innings.

Three Stars of the Game

1. James Fuerniss — New Prague. Fuerniss was everything for the New Prague on Sunday. Eight brilliant innings allowing only one run while striking out 10 Lakers. Plus Fuerniss went 2-4 at the plate scoring both runs for New Prague.

2. Joe Grote — Faribault. Grote was just as good on the mound, going the distance for Faribault. For the day, Grote allowed the two earned runs on eight hits, walking two and striking out seven batters.

3. Aiden Dorzinski — New Prague. In the fine hockey tradition of giving out the three stars in a goaltender’s duel, and giving a token star to who got the winning goal, we do the same here as Dorzinski’s sacrifice fly plated the second New Prague run of the game that proved to be the difference.

Notes

Faribault finished the week 1-1 with a win in Lonsdale on Wednesday and a rainout in Veseli preceding Sunday’s action. Faribault goes into the Fourth of July break with a 4-7 record in DRS Baseball, still trying to climb back to .500 after a slow start. The Lakers will be back home at Bell Field for a rematch with the Orioles next Sunday at 2pm.