By Kerry Rodd
Raptors 8 runs in 8th spell doom for Barnum
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Dave Harwig
Barnum's Eoghan Heaslip scores a run before Carlton / Wrenshall catcher Judah Sjodin can make a play during Thursday's baseball game at Chub Lake Park.
For seven innings the Carlton/Wrenshall and Barnum boys baseball teams battled nose to nose. Then, in the top of the eighth inning, all that changed when the Raptors erupted for eight runs and came away with an explosive 15-8 early season win on the road April 18.
"We got down early in the game and then showed a lot of resiliency to come back and win," said Carlton/Wrenshall coach Aaron Lattu.
Both teams had offensive success in the first seven innings with each team putting up seven runs before extra innings.
"I've been pretty pleased with how the season has gone, other than the fact that we made too many errors against Carlton/Wrenshall," said Barnum coach Dave Duesler. "Up until that game, we've been pretty much error-free as a team."
The Bombers got off to a quick start and gained a 2-0 lead after one inning. The Raptors led the game 7-4 entering the bottom of the seventh. Barnum found a way to score three runs and had the potential winning run on base. The Raptors were able to get themselves out of trouble with the game tied.
Dave Harwig
Carlton / Wrenshall's Brysen Jessup throws a pitch during Thursday's baseball game with Barnum.
"With one out in the top of the eighth, Jack Vernon doubled and then we just got on a roll," said Lattu. "Hitting is contagious, and we started hitting, we got some walks, and the next thing you know, we had put up eight runs and had a 15-7 lead."
The Bombers were struggling to find answers to stop the onslaught.
"Things just fell apart," Duesler said. "We are a fairly young team with not a ton of experience, and sometimes that kind of thing can happen."
Offensively, the Bombers got three hits from both Bryce Ferguson and Owen Peterson, while both Eli Gilbertson and Eoghan Heaslip each had two hits.
Leading the Raptors was Jeshua Sjodin, who rapped out four hits. Brody Vernon added
three hits and Uriah Loucks, Jack Vernon, Sam Ojibway and Bryce Jessup each recorded two hits.
Both teams are 2-3 on the season after the Raptors loss to Deer River Monday and the Bombers were dropped by Esko Tuesday.
