BP earns sixth straight win in 12-inning clash

Blooming Prairie’s non-conference game against Waseca last Friday nearly lasted as long as a doubleheader in a 4-2 win for the Awesome Blossoms after 12 innings at Tink Larson Field.

According to Blooming Prairie head coach Matt Kittelson, the keys to the game were focus and determination after so many innings of play.

“The boys just didn’t give up. Both teams had chances. We got ourselves in some tough spots, but got out of those innings. We also had some chances to win the game, but didn’t capitalize. I think just to be able to keep the focus for that long on a Friday night after a long week of games already and just not give up was big for us,” said Kittelson.

Waseca opened the scoring in the fourth inning by chaining together a walk and a single to put runners on first and third before an RBI fielder’s choice for Owen Honstad scored the run.

Blooming Prairie was able to tie the game at 1-1 in the top of the sixth inning on a single from Carsten Ingvalson that knocked home Gabe Staloch from second.

The tie was short-lived as Waseca immediately applied the pressure again by scoring in the bottom of the sixth inning on an RBI single to lead 2-1.

Blooming Prairie had just three outs remaining to extend the game and found an early opportunity when senior speedster Bradley Boyd was hit by a pitch.

Boyd promptly stole second base on the first pitch of teammate Elliot Gimbel’s at bat and also managed to swipe third base just three pitches later.

With one out and a runner on third, Gimbel made solid contact in a high-pressure spot, sending a shot to center field that was deep enough for Boyd to tag from third and cross the plate for the tying run with two outs.

“Elliot did a great job. I think our team’s mentality is that it doesn’t matter if it’s the first, seventh or 12^th inning; We have to get a run across… Our guys are just calm. They’re trying to get up there and make good contact. They’re not panicking in big moments,” said Kittelson on Gimbel’s at bat.

Kittelson then turned to Boyd in the bottom of the seventh inning to relieve pitcher Brayton Ingvalson after a quality start.

Boyd managed to retire the side in order to force extra innings.

Four scoreless extra innings went by before the Awesome Blossoms broke through with two runs in the top of the 12^th.

An opening walk for Gimbel put a runner on base with no outs, but a fielder’s choice quickly took him off the base paths as he tried to advance to second.

Jaxon Studer remained at first on the play and was able to reach second after an error on a fly ball hit by teammate Jaxon Meier allowed him to safely reach base.

Another fielder’s choice hit by Kelvin McCarthy advanced the runners to second and third base, but cost Blooming Prairie its second out in the process.

For the second time this season, opponents elected to intentionally walk Staloch to load the bases, allowing Carsten Ingvalson to step up to the plate with an opportunity to drive home what could be the game-winning runs.

The senior standout did just that by lacing a single into left field that scored Studer and Meier to give Blooming Prairie a 4-2 lead.

Boyd stepped back onto the mound for the bottom half inning and was excellent by forcing two ground outs and striking out the final batter.

“He kind of had to step in out of necessity. Jared [Lee] is injured, Carsten pitched on Thursday, and we wanted to use Gabe in our next game. The plan was to let Brayton [Ingvalson] go as long as he could before putting Bradley in. Bradley had been looking great in practice and looked excellent in our game Monday against Triton, so we had confidence putting him in against Waseca,” said Kittelson.

The win was Blooming Prairie’s sixth consecutive triumph after a loss to NRHEG on Thursday, April 9.

The Awesome Blossoms’ next game will be at home against WEM on Thursday, April 30 at 4:30 p.m.

Player Stats

vs. Waseca

                        H    R    RBI              

C. Ingvalson      3    0    3                 

Meier                1    1    0                 

Staloch             1    1    0                 

Boyd                1    1    0                 

Gimbel              0    1    1                 

DenHerder        1    0    0                 

Studer              0    1    0                 

                                IP   H    R    ER  K    BB

B. Ingvalson      6    6    2    1    5    1

Boyd                6    1    0    0    7    1