Eden Prairie's Trevor Divinski took the mound in the top of the seventh inning against Bemidji with a 4-0 lead and a request to quickly wrap up the game.
Playing their second contest on a chilly Saturday afternoon at Round Lake Park, third baseman Jeff Athey was ready to finish off the Lumberjacks and head home.
“(Athey) came over to me right before (the seventh) inning and said ‘let’s get a 1-2-3 inning. I want to get out of here,’” Divinski said.
Athey took it upon himself to help Divinski end the game, first by making a diving stop and throwing out Bemidji’s leadoff hitter, Callen Carson, from his knees. Then three batters later, Athey made another spectacular play, leaping and snagging a line drive above his head for the final out of the game.
Two unexpected plays coming from a 6-foot-3, 220-pound infielder.
“He’s got a unique combination of hands and agility,” Eagles coach John Buteyn said. “Third base is not a position you need a lot of range at, but he has the quickness to make the plays that go above and beyond.”
Ranked No. 16 in Class 4A by Let’s Play Baseball, Eden Prairie (4-5) closed the month of April with two shutout victories Saturday, beating Grand Rapids 1-0 and the No. 3-3A Jacks (5-4) 4-0.
“The defense (today) was probably the best I’ve seen this year, and that’s what we really need to keep winning,” Divinski said.
Divinski pitched four 1-2-3 innings in his first win of the season while striking out three batters and giving up only two hits.
The Eagles were able to string together hits when they needed to, and capped their weekend with a two-run double in the bottom of the sixth from Mark Ehresman, who pitched a one-hit complete game earlier in the day against the Thunderhawks.
“We’ve had games where we hit the ball well, but it’s just right at people,” Divinski said. “It’s good to start getting games where we’re putting up runs and piecing together a complete game.”
Now approaching the midpoint of the regular season, Eden Prairie now looks to make strides in the Lake Conference, where it has yet to pick up a victory.
“We have the talent to play with anybody. It’s just one hop here or there that decides games against these good teams,” Divinski said. “Hopefully by the end of the season, we’ll be prepared and edge them out.”
Matthew Morgan (23) had one of Bemidji's two hits of the day. Photo by Cheryl Myers.
First Report
Senior Trevor Divinski pitched a two-hit shutout in Eden Prairie’s 4-0 win over Bemidji Saturday afternoon at Round Lake Park.
Ranked No. 16 in Class 4A by Let's Play Baseball, The Eagles (4-5) scattered seven hits against the No. 3-3A Lumberjacks (5-4) after defeating Grand Rapids earlier in the day, ending a two-game skid.
Senior Mark Ehresman hit a two-run double to seal the game in the bottom of the sixth inning, going 1-for-3 against Bemidji right-handed pitcher George Loxtercamp.
Loxtercamp finished the game with six strikeouts and two walks while giving up four runs. Divinski struck out three and walked two.
