Last night was what you'd call an ole fashioned "ball game." Anyone who's been reading the game recaps, even only once in a while, is probabaly aware that the final score of quite a few of our games have ended up being a little lopsided, which is not to take away from our opponents or toot our own horns or anything like that; it's just an objective fact. Last night was a different story, not only in terms of the final score, but in terms of the feel: pre-game pomp and circumstance, a genuine playoff atmosphere, a beautiful MN summer evening, and of course, rivalry.

 

The New Market Muskies vs. the Elko Express. It has to be one of the most intense rivalries in all of MN amateur baseball. I'm sure there are others with long, storied histories, but just by right of the two teams being about a mile away from one another in the same town gives it a unique vibe. When el web maestro began playing for el fish about eleven years ago it wasn't much of rivalry: Elko dominated. Obviously, things have changed over the last half-decade. Anyway, the game...

 

The Lanky Lefty took the hill for the Fish, and he was good, as per usual. Never shaken, never rattled, always positive, D. Bergstrom is not only a heck of a pitcher, but a heck of a teammate as well. That just needs to be said.

 

The 3-spot that Elko put up in the 2nd was due to a lead-off single by Evanson, followed by a Grimm single and then a Miller sac bunt. After Altavilla was hit by a pitch, one run came in on a Kraska grounder to short, another on a K. Kalina double to the left-center gap, and the third on a wild pitch.

 

Elko 3-0 after two complete.

 

But we answered back with one of our own in the top of the 3rd thanks to a Nate Rost single that brought around the chief piranha himself, #14, Steve McGuiggan (who began the inning by reaching on an error). The following inning, we evened up the score after Herb led off with a single and T. Bergstrom lashed a double down the left field line. One run would come in on a K. Henkeyemer single through the right side, another when #14 grounded into a RARE double play.

 

3-3 after four complete.

 

We had a fantastic chance to take the lead in the 7th, but were ultimately unable to capitalize: lead-off double from #14, Spokes Lyden HBP, A. Henkemeyer sac bunt advances both runners, and then an intentional walk to The Nate Rost to load the bases. That was the end of the evening for the Elko starter, Nick Dorfman. Terry was clearly playing the matchup, as he brought in the lefty Glenn Parker to face the lefty K. Bergstrom. On a 1-1 pitch Kyle smoked one down the right field line, but alas, it was foul by a few inches. Parker got Bergstrom to hit a high chopper on the next pitch to the Elko second basemen. TNR executed a really nice take-out slide and forced Kalina to perform something of an acrobatic throw across the diamond, at which point Evanson made a really nice scoop to complete the 4-6-3 double play, quash the would-be rally, and end the inning.

 

Elko pushed across two more in their half of the 7th to make it a 5-3 game. Details unimportant.

 

We came right back and threatened in the 8th: Ni. Rost walked, Herber singled, T. Bergstrom walked, all against Elko reliever Dylan Thomas. But he managed to wiggle out of the jam, and that was that. Thomas struck out the side in the 9th, ball game over.

 

Heck of a game, heck of a crowd---though allowing the home team fans use the PA system to start chants is a little questionable in the mind of this recap-writer, but that's just the opinion of one man.

 

P.S. The Nate Rost set the single-season Muskies RBI record last night. He's at 41 and counting!

 

Seeya on Sunday as the Fish look to get back in the win column against St. Patrick.

El Webby out.