Despite jumping out to a four-run lead in the third inning of Tuesday’s contest against Minnetonka at Chaska Athletic Park, Chaska (17-2) found themselves in unfamiliar territory — playing in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Aside from back-to-back losses in late April, Chaska admittedly hasn’t had to deal with a whole lot of adversity in most of their games this year. With seven shutout wins and having outscored opponents by a combined score of 102-16 in their 16 wins this season, Minnetonka’s rally from a three-run deficit in the top of the seventh inning was a new feeling for the Hawks.
Chaska head coach Craig Baumann was glad the Hawks were up to the challenge in the 5-4 comeback win on Tuesday.
Trailing by three runs entering the top of the seventh inning, Minnetonka recorded a walk and two hits to tie the game and force Chaska to the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning in Tuesday’s matchup at Chaska Athletic Field. The Hawks came back with one run in the bottom of the seventh to earn the walk-off win.
Chaska (17-2) had six consecutive batters reach base in the bottom of the third inning, fueling a four-run inning to put them ahead. Drew Benson hit a two-run ground rule double to left field, followed by Karsen Atteberry’s two-run single the next at-bat.
The Hawks’ lead was cut by one run an inning later, as the Skippers (3-15) had a run score after a player was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
Senior Nolan Kemp pitched 5 2/3 innings for the Hawks, allowing one run and recording 10 strikeouts.
Kemp recorded the game-winning RBI, hitting a sacrifice fly to right field, allowing the runner at third to safely cross the plate.
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