Pitching, Defense Lead FC/L to Victory

The rain cleared out for some high school baseball yesterday and we saw some good defensive plays by both squads. After all was said and done, the Falcons, playing their last 2017 regular season home game, defeated Spring Grove 5-1.

After a bit of a late start, each team went scoreless in the first, though the home Falcons ended the first with the bases loaded. In the bottom of the second, Fillmore Central/Lanesboro’s Colten Kraling led off with a base hit, was advanced on a sac bunt by Casey Olson. In scoring position, Josh Peters drove him in with a base hit to right. Two batters later, Sam Peters hit a sac fly to drive in Josh and make the score 2-0. Sam Rustad then hit a tough one to second base, and as he reached,, Logan Corson made the score 3-0.

In the bottom of the third, Colten Kraling coaxed a two-out walk. His courtesy runner stole second base, then Casey Olson looped one to left to score him to make it 4-0.

Colten Kraling was dominant through three-not allowing any baserunners until Devon Nerstad got one through the right side. A couple batters later, with two on, a ground ball hit became a double play. Logan Corson fielded the ball at third, stepped on the bag, then the throw across the diamond was on time. Not that Kraling needed much more help, as his breaking ball was really breaking. Outfielders on both sides of the ball were making some diving plays, and the effort was appreciated by the crowd. Both centerfielders made diving plays to get the first out in each half of the fifth inning, with Collin Scott coming in, then Adin Solum stopped a ball from falling in the left-center gap. Right fielder Noah Elton ran a long way to track down a fly ball after that.

FC/L made it 5-0 in the 4^th as leadoff man Logan Corson got the offense started for 3 straight hits. Spring Grove scored one in the 7^th on some aggressive baserunning by Alex Folz. The final held at 5-1!

This game was a "Strikeout Cancer" game. The hat was passed around for donations to the charity, started by University of Minnesota Gophers pitching coach Todd Oakes. Oakes passed away last year after his fight with acute myeloid leukemia. If you wish to contribute any time, you can donate online to StrikeOutCancerMN.org.

KFIL Player of the Game for Spring Grove was Devon Nerstad. Devon was the first Spring Grove batter to reach base, leading off the 4th with a base hit.

FIllmore Central/Lanesboro had Co-Players of the Game. Second baseman Casey Olson hit two singles, drove in a run, and dropped down a sacrifice bunt. He made all the plays that his team could ask of him to earn the honors. The other Co-Player of the Game was Colten Kraling. On the mound, Kraling gave up just 2 hits, didn't hit or walk any batters, and struck out 8, including 7 of the first 9 batters faced. In the batter's box, he walked twice, got one base hit, scored two runs, and was 1/2 stealing bases.

We have a night game on KVGO Tuesday night! Caledonia takes on GMLOK in Rushford tonight, so tune in to 104.3 FM, kvgo1043.com, or on the FREE Radio Pup app about 6:30 tonight! We hope you can join us!