Every so often, without benefit of warning or a specific reason, matters on a baseball field simply go berserk. Such was the case on Day 4 of Anoka-Ramsey's spring training trip into Harrison, Arkansas.
On this Wednesday afternoon on the 16th day of March, Anoka-Ramsey outlasted Lake Region State College of Devil's Lake 27-20 (two missed extra points) in one game, then lost 12-8 in a slightly more subdued second game though it contained many of the crazy aspects provided in the first.
"Yes, you shake your head at it all, but in reality there was very little fun in something this bizarre," said the head coach after having time to analyze the event that took more than 8 hours to complete.
Some of the more interesting points:
• Anoka-Ramsey took a 9-4 lead going into the fourth inning of Game 1 thanks in great part to 10 hits. It fell behind 11-10 by the middle of the fifth inning, only to retake the lead for keeps with a three-run last-of-the fifth push. A 14-run, 12-hit sixth inning ultimately put the game away.
• In the second game, Anoka-Ramsey had a 3-2 going into the last of the second and appeared in line to enter the third with this advantage until a critical fielding error on a routine ground ball was thrown into the mix. Seven Lake Region batters later, Anoka-Ramsey teammates was looking at a 10-3 deficit from which it did not recover. The error was one of six Anoka-Ramsey infielders committed over the final five innings.
And some of the most impressive numbers:
• Lead-off hitter Brent Tholen (Isanti/St. Francis) had seven hits in 11 at-bats and scored four runs. He also drove in eight, three of which came on a second-game three-run homer.
• Before leaving the field because of a tender throwing arm in the third inning of the second game, outfielder/catcher Mike Zimbeck (Coon Rapids) put together a five-for-six doubleheader, three hits of which were doubles. He also had a sacrifice fly and a walk.
• Sophomore second baseman Jordan Langness(Somerset) had his best day at the plate in his Anoka-Ramsey career with five hits, two sacrifice fly balls and an impressive eight RBI.
• Catcher/designated hitter Justin Reeves (Coon Rapids), meantime, had four hits, including a home run. In the process, the fiery player known as Jaws by his teammates drove in five runs and literally drove the Lake Region left fielder, who tried to reach his home run ball, through the chain link fence.
• Brennan Beese (Elk River) had five hits, two walks and was hit-by-pitch once.
• Jared Vance (Brooklyn Park/Maranatha) had four hits and scored four runs.
• Tanner Kinney (Princeton) collected four walks and one hit.