Barnum Ends Three Game Losing Streak

Josh Cadwell – for NSO

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May 12, 2012

Dwight Cadwell-NSO

BARNUM- The Barnum Bombers lady softball team had been in three tight games this week leading up to Saturdays match-up with the Moose Lake-Willow River Rebels. It would be the Bombers turn to come away with a close win as the Bombers defeated the Rebels by a score of 7-6 in this Polar League conference match-up in Barnum on Saturday afternoon.

The Bombers, who had lost three one run games entering Saturday’s game with Moose Lake-Willow River; were looking for a victory in the conference rival Rebels. Barnum had lost to South Ridge 6-5 on Tuesday, a 12-11 loss to Esko on Thursday, and a 6-5 loss to the state’s second rated team Friday the Cherry Tigers.

“We had chances to win in all three games and our youth and inexperience hurt us in each game,” Head Coach Sarah Yrjanson told Northland Sports Online. “We battled a very intense and intimidating Cherry team and we were tied in the seventh inning with them.” Yrjanson mentioned “You play the state’s second rated team and it’s hard not to be intimidated.”

The Bombers came out fast Saturday as they would hold the Rebels hit-less and without a run until the sixth inning. Barnum scored runs in the first four innings that had led to a 6-0 lead after five innings. Three hits and a RBI single from Karianna Duesler lead to a 1-0 lead after one inning. Olivia Angell singled in MJ Anderson and Allanie Hanek-Siltanen doubled in Angell to give Barnum a 3-0 lead after two innings.

“They got off to a fast start today and we were just not ready,” Head Coach Andrew Miller told Northland Sports Online. “Her (Hultgren) pitches were right there and we just didn’t get going until the sixth inning.” Miller stated “we had chances to make plays on offense and defense and we didn’t today, we have to be ready to play every game and sometimes we just are not ready to go.”

MJ Anderson singled in Kerra Rowell in the third inning, and a double by Paige Rilea followed by a RBI triple from Cheyanne Johnson, and a RBI single by Duesler and it was a 6-0 lead after four innings. The Rebels finally got things going in the top of the sixth inning when the Rebels would walk three straight players before they got their first hit of the game from Kaitlyn Greene to cut the lead to 6-2.

The Rebels drew their fourth walk of the inning to Jodie Michalski and the bases were load when
the Rebels
center fielder, seventh
grader
Alley Bodie had a bases clearing triple to right center field. Bodie would come across with the tying run two pitches later as she scored on a wild pitch and the game was tied at 6-6 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning.

With the Rebels tying the game at 6-6, the Bombers responded in the bottom of the sixth inning when with two outs Hanek-Siltanen walked, she moved to third on a single to right field by Johnson, and she scored the winning run when Duesler hit a smash that went off a Rebels player into center field that led to the Bombers winning by a score of 7-6.

Lauren Hultgren was the winning pitcher Saturday for the Bombers; she went seven innings, allowed 6 earned runs, gave up only 2 hits walked 5 and struck out 7 Rebel batters. Samantha Johnson was the losing pitcher allowing 10 hits, 7 runs only 4 that were earned she struck out 5, and walked only one batter.

Cheyanne Johnson led the Bombers by going 3-4 with a triple, an RBI and a run scored. Allanie Hanek-Siltanen was 2-3 with 2 runs scored and a RBI, Karianna Duesler was 2-4 with 2 RBI’s and MJ Anderson went 2-3 with a RBI. Paige Rilea added the other Bombers hit Saturday. Kaitlyn Green finished 1-3 with a double and 2 RBI’s, and it was Bodie going 1-3 with a triple and 3 RBI’s to lead the Rebels.

Barnum improves to 7-9 on the season and they will close out their regular season on Monday when they host East Central in a sectional match-up in Askov. Tuesday they will play in Cromwell and on Wednesday they will close out the regular season at home against Silver Bay. Barnum will open Section 5 play on Friday at home; the section’s seeding will be finalized on Wednesday.

Moose Lake-Willow River, who had won 8 of 9 games coming into Saturday, fall to 8-6 overall on the season and they will play at McGregor on Tuesday. They will close out the regular season on Thursday at home when they will host the Pine City Dragons.

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at dwight@northlandsportsonline.com