Hornets edge Cardinals 9-6 in HOL action

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

Frazee has opened its season with a pair of wins and losses, including a split with Park Rapids Area in the regular season opener.

The Hornets opened their season with a 10-9 win over Park Rapids Area on April 10, before falling to the Panthers the following day on the road by a score of 4-3. 

Last week the Hornets defeated Staples-Motley by a score of 9-6, before having a second game suspended in the sixth inning by a score of 4-4. On Wednesday night the Hornets fell to Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale by a score of 9-8 to even their season record 2-2, including a 2-1 start in the Heart O’ Lakes Conference.

This week the Hornets will travel to New York Mills on Tuesday night in a non-conference match up, before heading to Barnesville on Thursday for a double-header against the Trojans. 

April 10

Asher Blaine had an opening day he will remember for quite a while as the senior did not give up a hit in 4 1/3 innings on the mound while striking out 12 Park Rapids batters. He also finished 4-5 at the place with an RBI as the Hornets came away with a thrilling 10-9 win over Park Rapids on April 10.

Frazee took command of the game in the bottom of the second inning as they scored five runs thanks to an RBI double by Andrew Aho, three runs on a pair of errors and an RBI single by Blaine to make the score 5-0. 

Park Rapids chipped away at the score and eventually took an 8-7 lead in the top of the sixth inning thanks to four runs in the top half of the sixth. The Hornets were ultimately able to tie the game at 8-8 in the bottom of the sixth inning when Chase Ullrich earned a bases loaded walk with two outs to bring Noah Mekalson across the plate to score. 

The game went into extra innings and following a scoreless eighth inning, Park Rapids took control when they scored on a double play to make the score 9-8 heading into the bottom half of the inning. The Hornets scored a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning, including on a bases loaded walk by Mekalson to end the game in extra innings by a score of 10-9. 

As a team the Hornets picked up 15 walks and were led by Mekalson who secured six walks and three runs in the win. The Panthers were also able to make the most of their free chances on the base paths as they secured 11 walks as well. 

Aho and Adam Vigen each picked up a double and Blaine secured a triple to lead the way offensively. 

Mekalson picked up the win on the mound as he pitched the final 4 2/3 innings and gave up four hit, two earned runs and six walks. He also struck out one batter. 

Frazee vs. Park Rapids

AB R H     BI

Chandler Ullrich 5 1 0 3

Dawson Lyman 4 1 0 0

Asher Blaine 5 1 4 1

Karson Krause 3 0 0 0

Ben Reierson 3 0 0 0

Noah Mekalson 0 3 0 0

Conner Erickson 3 0 0 0

Andrew Aho 5 1 1 1

Mason Mickelson 3 1 0 0

Adam Vigen 3 2 1 0

HITTING- 2B- Andrew Aho, Adam Vigen

PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-k)- Asher Blaine 4.1-0-3-2-5-12, Noah Mekalson 4.2-4-6-2-6-1

April 11

One day after a thrilling win at home, Frazee fell to Park Rapids by a 4-3 score when the Panthers scored a run in the bottom of the seventh inning. 

Trailing 3-0 in the top of the fourth inning, Frazee scored a pair of runs on a passed ball, as well as an Andrew Aho RBI single to bring Noah Mekalson across the plate to make the score 3-2 in favor of the Panthers. The score remained 3-2 until the top of the sixth inning when Karson Krause scored from third base on an error by the catcher to make the score 3-3. 

Unfortunately, the Panthers were able to score the game winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning to hand Frazee a 4-3 loss. 

The two teams combined for just six hits in the game with Aho leading the way for Frazee with a pair of hits, including a double. The other hit was a double by Krause. 

Adam Vigen started the game on the mound for Frazee and went 4 2/3 innings, giving up just three hits and one earned run, while striking out seven. 

Frazee vs. Park Rapids

AB R H     BI

Chandler Ullrich 3 0 0 0

Adam Vigen 3 0 0 0

Asher Blaine 4 0 0 0

Karson Krause 2 2 1 0

Noah Mekalson 1 1 0 0

Conner Erickson 3 0 0 0

Andrew Aho 2 0 2 1

Mason Mickelson 2 0 0 0

Dawson Lyman 2 0 0 0

Blake Sonnenberg 1 0 0 0

HITTING- 2B- Karson Krause, Andrew Aho

PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-k)- Adam Vigen 4.2-3-3-1-3-7, Dawson Lyman 1.1-0-0-0-0-0

April 15

Frazee secured its second HOL Conference win of the season on Tuesday night as the Hornets handed Staples-Motley at 9-6 loss. 

The Hornets opened the game up with a big six-run bottom of the first inning to take a 6-1 lead. 

Karson Krause put the Hornets on the scoreboard with a two-run single, before Conner Erickson hit a two-run double to put Frazee in front 4-1. Blake Sonnenberg followed with an RBI double and scored just one batter later when Charlie Turnbull-Sanders hit an RBI single to center field.

The Hornets would strike for two more runs in the fifth inning and a solo run in the sixth inning to take a 9-3 lead. Staples-Motley scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning, but would get no closer as Frazee came away with a 9-6 win. 

Sonnenberg finished with three hits and a pair of RBIs, while Krause finished with three RBI’s of his own. 

Asher Blaine secured the win on the mound as he went four innings, giving up just two hits and striking out 10 batters. He also walked seven batters, before giving way to Dawson Lyman who pitched the final three innings in relief. 

The nightcap of the double header was tied 4-4 in the top of the sixth inning when play was suspended. 

Frazee vs. Staples

AB R H     BI

Chandler Ullrich 3 1 0 0

Andrew Aho 3 2 1 0

Gavin Holt 0 0 0 0

Asher Blaine 3 1 1 0

Karson Krause 4 1 1 3

Noah Mekalson 4 0 0 0

Conner Erickson 3 2 1 2

Blake Sonnenberg 3 2 3 2

C. Turnbull-Sanders 1 0 1 1

Adam Vigen 1 0 1 1

Dawson Lyman 2 0 0 0

HITTING- 2B- Conner Erickson, Blake Sonnenberg

PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-k)- Asher Blaine 4.0-2-1-1-7-10, Dawson Lyman 3.0-6-5-4-5-3