4-run 7th inning keeps team’s season alive
Facing the prospect of their summer season coming to an end, the Tracy 18U baseball team rallied Monday for a 5-4 win over Lamberton in Milroy.
Tracy’s offense was quiet for most of the game as Lamberton built a 2-0 lead after three innings. Tracy finally got on the board in the bottom of the fourth, however. Jackson Kruse led off with his second hit of the game and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Aiden Sanow. Brody Hauger then doubled in Kruse to make it 2-1.
Kruse, starting on the mound, shut out Lamberton through the fourth through sixth innings, but Lamberton put up two runs off reliever Taylor Squires to increase their advantage to 4-1, putting Tracy’s season on the brink.
But Tracy saved their best for the last inning to save their season.
Brayden Marron led off the bottom of the seventh by blasting a double to centerfield. Marron stole third base, and Carson Lanoue was plunked by a pitch to put runners at the corners with nobody out.
Marron scored Tracy’s second run when Nolan Carlson reached on an error; Lanoue scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Jaxon Rolling to make it 4-3, with Carlson advancing to third on the play.
Ethan Schreier then reached when the Lamberton shortstop fell down fielding his grounder and Squires walked. Tracy then loaded the bases when Kruse was intentionally walked.
Carlson scored the tying run when Sanow reached on an infield single, and with the bases loaded, Hauger drew a base on balls, pushing Schreier across with the winning run.
Before the last half inning, young skipper Connor Lanoue reminded the boys that their season would end if they didn’t step up.
“Just going into the seventh inning, we were kind of quiet in the dugout,” he said. “I told them we’ve got to bring energy because this would be our last game of the year if we don’t do anything. Then the lineup took over.”
Kruse allowed two runs in six strong innings of work.
“You can rely on Jackson to go at least six innings most games,” Lanoue said. “I felt maybe his arm was hurting a little, but he told me he’s good to go as long we needed him.”
As of the printing of this week’s paper, it was not known when or where Tracy will play next.
Lamberton 011 000 2 — 4 Tracy 000 100 4 — 5
Kruse, Squires (W) and Squires and Lanoue. 2B: Kruse, Marron, Hauger. SACB: Sanow. SACF: Rolling.
