Legion wins one of three against Woodbury, Northfield

The Hastings American Legion baseball team traveled to Woodbury June 30. The team lost, 13-12, in extra innings.

“It was a rollercoaster of a game,” head coach Mark Bauer said. “We jumped out to a 9-0 lead after the first three and half innings. Than the team learned a great lesson. The game isn't over till we retire 21 outs.”

Woodbury came back and scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth to make it 9-3. The team answered with two runs of their own to make it 11-3. Once again Woodbury scored two more runs in the sixth and six runs in the seventh to tie the game at 11 and force extra innings.

Hastings scored one run in the ninth to take the lead, but Woodbury scored two in the bottom half of the inning for the win.

David Schoeberl pitched the first eight innings of the game.

“He showed a lot of heart, throwing 130 pitches,” Bauer said.

Schoeberl only allowed three earned runs, but had eight unearned runs.

“The defense in the last three innings wasn't up to our team standard,” Bauer said. “I take full blame, ‘cause I played some people in spots they hadn't played in a while. I take full responsibility for the team’s loss.”

Vs. Northfield

Thursday, July 1, Hastings finished their sixth and seventh games of the week. Aaron Stoneberg pitched the first game.

“He went the distances in our 6-1 win,” Bauer said.

Stoneberg only gave up six hits in the game.

Hastings finished the game with only eight players after a batter swung outside the box.

“Having two outfielders for the last two innings seemed to help, ‘cause Northfield hit two balls in the outfield gap, which could have been sure doubles if we had three outfielders,” Bauer said.

On offense, Nick Bachmann scored two of Hastings’ six runs. Andrew Lindberg had a huge double in the first inning to give the team a 4-0 lead. Ryan Hackel also made a few key plays. He went two for three at the plate. Hackel played left center for the last two innings after making some key plays at second base earlier in the game.

In game two, Hastings lost, 14-4.

“The long week really showed in this game,” Bauer said. “The players were both physically and mentally tired. The pitching staff was used up.”

Brain Amble came in relief and gave the regular pitchers three key innings of rest.

“Amble pitched well and threw strikes,” Bauer said. “As a coach this is all I could've ask for out of him.”

On offense, Bachmann went three for three at the plate and Hackel went two for three again.

“Even though the scoreboard might not have been the outcome we wanted, they showed me as a team we have a lot of heart,” Bauer said. “I just wanted to say I'm proud of my guys for never giving up during this roller-coaster of a week.”

Tags: sports, hastings, baseball