Lopez, Wueben, Sheehan combine to strike out 10; Spartans defense/pitching combine to limit opposition to two runs in previous two games
Kennedy made a four-run first inning stand while Richfield’s comeback fell short as the Eagles emerged with a 6-4 win on a bitterly cold evening at Red Haddox Field in Bloomington on Thursday.
The bottom third of Kennedy’s batting order including Kyle Fortner, Jean Jiminez and Isaac Syrjamaki combined for four hits scoring once and bringing in two runs. Syrjamaki had a double while Gunner Geyen scored twice.
Kennedy junior Will Vogel said it was nice to see the bats generate some offense after drawing more walks in the previous two wins to start the season 3-1.
“This game we showed we can hit and I’m optimistic to see what we can do,” he said as one of the veterans in the lineup. “We can definitely help the young kids coming up how to keep their composure and not be hot-headed when something doesn’t go their way.”
Kennedy starting pitcher Ryan Sheehan gave up two runs on three hits over three innings. At the plate, Sheehan drove in a pair of runs on a double to centerfield.
Alejandro Moreno Lopez and Eli Wueben combined with Sheehan to strike out 10 Spartan batters while issuing four walks.
Richfield coach Jason Boe liked the mentality inside the dugout as the game moved along.
“These guys have zero quit in them, we’ve instilled that Bulldog-mentality in them and they have embraced it and gone for it and you could see it tonight.
“Going down four runs and never giving up, kept the pressure on them the whole time,” Boe said.
Instead of giving up, Richfield kept churning out productive at bats by getting on base, moving along the basepaths and finding a way to bring four runs across as they outhit the Eagles 9-8.
Richfield senior Connor Wolke opened the second inning with a walk before coming round to score on a Kennedy throwing error to narrow the lead to 4-1. Junior Nick Olson followed up with a hard ground ball down the third base line to give the Spartans two base runners with no outs. Kennedy worked out of the jam by turning a double play – Sheehan started the play with a throw home to get the runner trying to score. Catcher Nick Manning relayed the ball Wueben at third base then Will Vogel at second base for the second out by tag.
Vogel finished the inning by holding onto a pop fly to get out of the inning with a 4-1 Kennedy lead.
Syrjamaki made it 5-2 for the home team in the bottom of the third inning by driving in Geyen with a line drive to left field with two outs.
Richfield kept pace in the top of the fourth inning as Cole Nutting opened the inning with a tricky fly ball to right field falling safely for a hit. Nutting came around to score on a wild pitch with Matthew Popp at the plate.
Popp would leg-out an infield hit to the right side of the infield to move Anderson up to third base with one out.
Anderson would be tagged out at home trying to score on a comebacker to the pitcher for the second out of the inning.
Popp moved up to second base on the play and stole third base before scoring on a passed ball to move within one run of the lead, 5-4.
Lopez struck out Forpahl to get out of inning as Kennedy clinged to a one-run lead midway through the fourth inning.
Into the bottom of the sixth inning, Syrjamaki led things off with a double for Kennedy as Kyle Fortner brought him home with a base hit to center field to take a 6-4 lead.
Familiar face
Boe took over as head coach this off-season after serving as a longtime assistant in addition to coaching at the Legion baseball level.
Knowing the program and the players as well as he does, along with assistant coach Kris Pulford and the rest of the staff has only benefited the program to have stability at the top for the kids to learn from some of the best teachers around.
“Knowing them definitely has been a help to know their strengths and weaknesses and put them in the right spots,” Boe said.
When asked about being the go-to voice of the program in the dugout now, Boe joked: “How much battery life do you have on that [phone]?”
“Honestly, I’ve got a great staff with head coaches and great people to lean on and now it is about getting used to the other stuff which comes with it.”
Boe says the pitching depth is a big help with seven to eight arms to turn to in certain situations as they come up.
The experience back in the dugout is still young, but will take time to learn the nuances of varsity baseball.
“It’s great group of kids and it is going to get the kids to grow-up baseball wise and learning the game in a short season, it is really hard to do,” Boe said.
With his background of coaching this group during the summer Legion season, it was an easy transition. “They came in the first day of spring practice asking ‘Are we going to do this, this and this?’ and I was like ‘Yup’ and they were okay with that because it definitely put us ahead of the game.”
As a result, they could implement other themes and ideas to be ready to go in the tough Tri-Metro Conference.
2-0 start
Richfield’s pitching and defense helped the team start with a pair of wins, 8-2 at Fridley on April 12 and 3-2 over DeLaSalle in the home opener on April 15.
Follow Jason Olson on Twitter @Jason0lson or @SunSportsJason.
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(Sun Newspapers staff photo by Jason Olson)
Richfield sophomore Ian Stang allowed one run over 3 1/3 innings of relief work against Kennedy on Thursday.
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Kennedy catcher Nick Manning, back, tags out Richfield baserunner Jayden Anderson at home plate during Thursday’s game at Haddox Field.
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Richfield junior Jayden Anderson connects with a pitch during Thursday’s game at Bloomington Kennedy. Anderson had one of nine hits for the Spartans.
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Kennedy teammates Nick Manning, left, high-fives Mason Biermaier after scoring on a Ryan Scheehan double in the first inning against Richfield at Haddox Field in Bloomington on Thursday.
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Richfield teammates Nick Olson (12) high-fives Connor Wolke (17) after scoring during the second inning against Kennedy on Thursday.
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Kennedy third baseman Eli Wuebben makes a throw across the infield against Richfield on Thursday at Haddox Field.
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Richfield junior Aidan Forpahl rips the ball down the third base line against Kennedy on Thursday. Forpahl drew a walk and drove in a run.
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