Prowlers drop season-opener to North Stars

by Scott DCamp Sports Editor The East Polk North Stars rallied from a four-run deficit to defeat Thief River Falls 5-4 in the Prowlers’ season-opener Friday, April 5 at Win-E-Mac High School in Erskine. The Prowlers took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. Sophia Kraemer led off the game with a bunt single and moved to third on a single by number two hitter Braylee Wienen. Wienen stole second to put two runners in scoring position for the Prowlers and both runners would score on a one-out single by Liza Bjerklie, with Bjerklie advancing to second on the throw. Ellie McDermott, who entered the game as a courtesy runner for Bjerklie, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and she scored the third run of the inning on an error. Thief River Falls starter Carlie Rogalla pitched around a couple of base runners that reached on a walk and an error in the opening inning before retiring the North Stars in order in the second. The Prowlers added a run in the top of the third. Breanna Myers drew a one-out walk. She moved to second on a groundout by Bjerklie and scored on error to make it 4-0 in favor of the Prowlers. The North Stars answered with five runs on five hits in the bottom of the third. The score was still 5-4 in favor of the North Stars going into the Prowlers’ final at-bat in the top of the seventh. Pinch hitter Brooklyn Svendsgaard drew a one-out, five-pitch walk and she was replaced by McDermott as a pinch runner. McDermott was caught stealing for the second out. Kraemer kept the game alive with a two-out single. Kraemer stole second to get into scoring position. Wienen reached on an error. Kraemer rounded third on the play and nearly scored the game-tying run, but she was instead tagged out at the plate. Kraemer and Rogalla led the Prowlers in hits with two each. Bjerklie had the only RBIs for the Prowlers with two. The Prowlers were back in action Monday night at Roseau and they were scheduled to host Warroad for their home opener Tuesday afternoon. Scoring 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E TRF 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 - 4 6 2 EP 0 0 5 0 0 0 x - 5 7 3 Batting Thief River Falls AB R H RBI BB SO S. Kraemer 4 1 2 0 0 0 B. Wienen 4 1 1 0 0 0 B. Myers 2 1 0 0 1 0 L. Bjerklie 3 0 1 2 0 1 K. Sorter 3 0 0 0 0 0 C. Rogalla 3 0 2 0 0 0 P. Greene 2 0 0 0 0 2 O. Tougas 3 0 0 0 0 1 S. Tougas 2 0 0 0 0 0 E. McDermott 0 1 0 0 0 0 B. Svendsgaard 0 0 0 0 1 0 Totals 26 4 6 2 2 4 Highlights - E - K. Sorter (1), O. Tougas (1); Sac - P. Greene (1); SB - S. Kraemer (1), B. Wienen (1), C. Rogalla (2). East Polk AB R H RBI BB SO A. Howard 3 1 1 0 0 0 B. Mahlen 4 1 2 0 0 1 L. Mahlen 3 1 1 1 0 0 P. Breitbach 2 1 0 0 1 1 K. Tadman 3 1 1 2 0 2 A. Morberg 2 0 2 1 1 0 C. Burrack 3 0 0 0 0 3 A. Anderson 3 0 0 1 0 1 V. Johnson 3 0 0 0 0 0 Totals 26 5 7 5 2 8 Highlights - E - P. Breitbach (1), V. Johnson (2); 2B - A. Morberg (1); Sac - A. Howard (1). Pitching Thief River Falls IP H R ER BB SO C. Rogalla - L 4.0 6 5 5 2 5 O. Tougas 2.0 1 0 0 0 3 East Polk IP H R ER BB SO B. Mahlen - W 7.0 6 4 2 2 4