Awesome Blossoms open strong to beat Lyle-Pacelli

Published 1:53 pm Saturday, April 29, 2017

The Blooming Prairie baseball team had four days to sit on a heartbreaking loss they suffered at the beginning of the week, but they quickly erased those memories as they started fast and beat Lyle-Pacelli 8-0 in Marcusen Park Saturday morning.

The Awesome Blossoms (2-5 overall) had lost to 7-6 to Faribault Bethlehem Academy when they saw a three-run lead disappear in the seventh inning on Monday, but they were able to turn the tables against the Athletics (4-4 overall). Brad Staska, Connor Getchell, Colin Lerum and Ethan Arett all knocked in a run in the first inning as the Awesome Blossoms jumped out to a 4-0 lead.

Blooming Prairie’s Payton Simon dives back into first on a pick-off attempt Saturday morning against Lyle-Pacelli in Marcusen Park. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

“The fast start was huge. The loss [to FBA] was kind of still in the back our minds and when you get up right away, you kind of forget about that,” BP head coach Matt Kittelson said. “To shut these guys out was a step in the right direction.”

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Staska, a junior first baseman for BP, had a huge day at the plate as he went 4-for-5 with two doubles and four RBIs. BP has struggled to avoid the let-down inning for much of this season and Staska said Saturday’s win will provide a big lift for the team.

“It’s a confidence booster at the plate, with pitching and with fielding,” Staska said. “We worked a lot on hitting this week, because when we hit well, we play well.”

LP had six hits in the loss, but it wasn’t able to create any rallies. The Athletics trailed 6-0 after two innings, but relief pitchers Jed Nelson and Taylor Arett were able to slow down BP’s attack.

“We just weren’t ready to play and they were,” LP head coach Brock Meyer said. “They hit the ball and every time we hit the ball, it was right at them. That’s the way it goes sometimes.”

Eighth grader Zach Bollingberg went 3-for-3 with a walk at the plate for LP and he also played solid defense at shortstop. Meyer said Bollingberg has picked up his game in all aspects this spring.

“Zach has worked his butt off,” Meyer said. “He works hard at getting used to this varsity level and he’s finding more and more confidence in himself. The game’s slowing down for him a little bit.”

Lyle-Pacelli’s Jed Nelson pitches against Blooming Prairie Saturday morning at Marcusen Park. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

BP 4 2 0 1 0 1 0 – 8 11 1
LP 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 0 6 2

BP pitching: Jack Abbe (W) 4 1/3 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 0 R; Seth Peterson, 2 2/3 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 0 R, 1 K

BP hitting: Max Romeo, 0-for-4, BB; Payton Simon, 2-for-2, 3 R, 3 SB, 2 HBP, BB; Peterson, 0-for-3, 2 R, HBP, BB; Brad Staska, 4-for-5, 2 doubles, 4 RBIs, R; Connor Getchell, 2-for-4, RBI, R, 2 SB; Camden Heimerman, 0-for-4, RBI; Dylan Nirk, 1-for-2, SB, 2 HBP; Ethan Arett, 1-for-3, RBI, SB; Colin Lerum, 1-for-3; Jeremy Hocking, HBP
LP pitching: Cory Weber (L) 1 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 4 ER, 1 K, 1 HBP; Jed Nelson, 4 IP, 6 H, 1 BB, 3 ER, 1 K, 2 HBP; Taylor Arett, 2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 6 K, 3 HBP
LP hitting: Zach Bollingberg, 3-for-3, SB, BB; Bryce Strouf, 0-for-3, BB; Nelson, 0-for-4; Weber, 1-for-3; Brady Lester, 0-for-3; Tanner Murphy, 0-for-1, 2 BBs; Braeden Scheffel, 1-for-3; Trinity Anderson, 1-for-3; Cole Walter, 0-for-3; Arett, 0-for-1