Prowlers sweep Lakers in home twin bill, improve to 3-0

by Scott DCamp Sports Editor Thief River Falls was dominant in all facets of Friday’s high school baseball doubleheader against Detroit Lakes. Both games ended early via the 10-run rule, with the Prowlers defeating the Lakers 12-2 in six innings in game one and 15-2 in five innings in game two. Starting pitchers Jaxon Hams and Gannon Zutz pitched gems. Hams struck out eight of the first 10 batters he faced en route to an 11-strikeout performance. Overall, he went five innings and allowed one run on two hits. Ethan Lane closed out game one allowing a run on one hit. In game two, Zutz allowed a pair of runs (one earned) in the second inning before finishing the game with three scoreless innings to pick up the win. Overall, Zutz went five innings and allowed one earned run on five hits. He walked one batter and struck out six. Lane pitched a scoreless top of the fifth inning to close out the Lakers. Offensive leaders for the Prowlers in game one were Bodhi Mossestad, who went 2-for-3 with a double, two runs scored and two RBI; Bridger Wilcox, 2-for-3, with a run scored and an RBI; and Noah Gonzales, who went 2-for-3. Sixteen Prowlers made plate appearances in game two. Kennett Kezar went 1-for-1 with a double and two RBI in his lone at-bat. Evan Paschke went 1-for-2 with a walk, two runs and two RBI; and Caleb Rosendahl went 1-for-2 with a walk and scored two runs. Co-Head Coach Xavier Gonzales was happy with his team’s performance through its first three games. “We had very good pitching all around,” Gonzales said. “In 20 innings, we have 35 strikeouts and only 10 walks. That is fantastic. “The team does not give up either. We fell behind to Warroad late, but we were able to face the adversity and battle back to get the victory.” Gonzales said the Prowlers’ offensive approach is to be aggressive and make their opponents make the plays to get outs on the bases. The Prowlers have 25 hits and 14 stolen bases through three games. “We will take the extra base, steal and bunt, and get our runners moving,” Gonzales said. Gonzales also highlighted the play of Bridger Wilcox. In the first three games, Wilcox is hitting .625, with 5 hits, three RBI and four runs scored. Wilcox also made a game saving catch and game-winning hit in the season-opener against Warroad. “Players have bought into their early roles to make the team successful,” Gonzales said. The Prowlers were back in action Tuesday night with a home game against 2023 Class A state champion Fosston. Results from that game will appear in Saturday’s edition of The Northern Watch. The Prowlers remain at home Friday, April 19 against the Northern Freeze. Game 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E DL 0 0 0 1 0 1 X 2 3 4 TRF 0 0 6 1 2 3 X 12 11 0 Batting Detroit Lakes AB R H RBI BB SO C. Eckhoff (CF) 3 0 0 0 0 2 B. Swiers (C) 1 2 0 0 1 1 N. Rieber (P,SS) 3 0 2 0 0 0 C. Beswick (SS) 3 0 0 1 0 2 T. Wilson (1B) 3 0 1 0 0 1 W. Martin (RF) 2 0 0 0 0 1 K. McArthur (3B) 2 0 0 0 0 2 Z. Sweere (LF) 2 0 0 0 0 2 E. Rieber (2B) 2 0 0 0 0 0 Totals 21 2 3 1 1 11 Highlights - 2B: N. Rieber; HBP: B. Swiers; SB: N. Rieber, B. Swiers; E: E. Rieber 3, K. McArthur. Thief River Falls AB R H RBI BB SO J. Kelly (2B) 3 1 1 1 0 0 L. Kriel (2B) 1 0 0 0 0 0 N. Gonzales (C) 3 0 2 2 0 0 G. Gonsorowski 0 1 0 0 1 0 J. Erickson (CF) 3 1 1 1 0 0 C. Jensen 1 0 0 0 0 1 B. Mossestad (LF) 3 2 2 2 0 0 C. Manderud 0 0 0 0 1 0 J. Hurst (DH) 3 0 1 2 0 2 B. Wilcox (RF) 3 1 2 1 0 0 C. Rosendahl (3B) 2 1 1 0 1 1 K. Kezar (1B) 2 1 0 0 0 1 G. Zutz (SS) 2 1 1 0 0 0 E. Paschke 0 2 0 0 1 0 Totals 25 12 11 9 5 5 Highlights - 2B: B. Mossestad; HBP: J. Hurst; SB: J. Erickson, E. Paschke, B. Wilcox; CS: E. Paschke. Pitching Detroit Lakes IP H R ER BB SO N. Rieber - L 5.0 11 9 8 1 4 No. 15 0.1 0 3 3 4 1 Thief River Falls IP H R ER BB SO J. Hams - W 5.0 2 1 1 0 11 E. Lane 1.0 1 1 1 1 0 Game 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E DL 0 2 0 0 0 X X - 2 6 4 TRF 4 5 0 6 X X X - 15 8 2 Batting Detroit Lakes AB R H RBI BB SO C. Eckhoff (CF, P) 3 0 0 0 0 0 E. Rieber (2B) 2 0 0 0 0 1 No. 16 1 0 0 0 0 1 N. Rieber (SS) 3 0 2 0 0 0 C. Beswick (P) 2 0 1 0 0 0 No. 3 (3B) 1 0 0 0 0 0 K. McArthur (3B, CF) 2 0 0 0 0 2 R. Gulseth (1B) 2 0 0 0 0 1 C. Bartnes (LF) 1 1 0 0 1 1 R. Hanson (RF) 2 0 1 0 0 1 B. Swiers (C) 2 1 2 1 0 0 Team 21 2 6 1 1 7 Highlights - SB: C. Bartnes; CS: N. Rieber; E: N. Rieber 2, R. Hanson 2. Thief River Falls AB R H RBI BB SO J. Kelly (2B, LF) 2 1 1 0 0 0 L. Kriel 0 1 0 0 1 0 N. Gonzales (C) 0 0 0 0 2 0 G. Gonsrowski (C) 0 1 0 0 0 0 J. Erickson (CF) 3 1 1 0 0 2 C. Manderud 1 1 1 0 0 0 B. Mossestad (DH) 2 2 0 0 0 1 A. Dalager (DH) 1 0 0 0 0 1 J. Hurst (LF) 1 1 0 1 0 0 E. Paschke (RF) 2 2 1 2 0 1 B. Wilcox (RF, LF) 2 1 1 0 0 0 C. Nelson 0 1 0 0 1 0 C. Rosendahl (SS) 1 2 1 0 1 0 K. Kezar (1B) 1 0 1 2 1 0 W. Nelson (1B) 1 0 0 0 0 0 J. Hams (3B) 2 0 0 0 0 1 K. Mehrkens (3B) 1 1 1 0 0 0 Team 20 15 8 5 6 6 Highlights - 2B: K. Kezar; HBP: N. Gonzales, C. Rosendahl, J. Hurst, B. Mossestad, J. Kelly; G. Gonsorowski; SB: J. Erickson, C. Rosendahl, E. Paschke 2, J. Kelly 2, G. Gonsorowski, B. Wilcox, L. Kriel. Pitching Detroit Lakes IP H R ER BB SO C. Beswick - L 2.0 4 9 4 2 2 C. Eckhoff 2.0 4 6 6 4 4 Thief River Falls IP H R ER BB SO G. Zutz - W 4.0 5 2 1 1 6 E. Lane 1.0 1 0 0 0 1