Grote goes 4-4 as Lakers blow out Shakopee at home 11-1

The 10-run rule was in effect at Bell Field Thursday, as the Lakers manhandled Shakopee 11-1 on a beautiful night in Faribault.

Joe Grote was perfect at the plate, going 4-4 and scoring four of the 11 runs for the Lakers. Egan Bonde started on the mound and cruised to the win for the Lakers, who piled up 15 hits in the game.

Faribault came out hot at the plate, jumping on Shakopee’s starting pitcher Jake Poppitz right away. Joe Grote doubled, scoring Dylan O’Neil, who had reached base on a hit by pitch. Austin Rendler then came to the plate and promptly crushed a ball to left field for a two-run home run to make it 3-0 after one inning of play.

In the bottom of the second inning, the Lakers tacked on two more runs, as Zander Fitzsimmons walked and scored on another double by Grote. Rendler then doubled home Grote for a 5-0 lead after two innings.

After a scoreless third inning, the Lakers kept the bats scorching in the fourth. O’Neil singled, and Grote stayed perfect at the plate with his third hit on a single, scoring O’Neil. Rendler did the same, getting his third hit in as many at bats. Aiden Tobin got on the scoresheet with a single and RBI, as Grote scored to make it 7-0 after four innings.

Bonde was excellent on the mound for the Lakers, moving the ball around and keeping the Shakopee batters off balance. Shakopee had three scratch hits and scored their only run on a error by the Lakers’ fielders.

The Lakers tacked on one more run in each of the fifth and sixth innings, highlighted by a triple by Tobin, scoring Grote, who had walked previously.

With the score 9-1 after six, it turned into a laugher. The Lakers ended the game early with two more runs in the seventh to call the game on a 10-run mercy rule. Fitzsimmons and O’Nell singled, and Grote got his fourth hit of the night, scoring both to call the game.

The box score was full of multi-hit players, with O’Neil going 3-4 with two runs, Rendler 3-4 with 3 RBIs, and Fitzsimmons also perfect at the plate going 2-2 with one walk and two runs scored.

Ten of the 11 runs were earned, as Shakopee pitchers really struggled on the mound.

The Lakers have only two games remaining, both at home: July 27, Lakers vs Prior Lake, 1 p.m.; July 28, Lakers vs Union Hill, 2 p.m.; league playoffs start July 30; regions start Aug. 4.