Lakers come up short vs. Spuds

Some changes in the lineup, along with more experience, are helping the Detroit Lakes baseball team to get closer to making it over the hump against section teams.

A fired-up Lakers team came out belting the ball against visiting Moorhead Thursday at Washington Park, but high intensity wasn't enough, as the Spuds prevailed with two runs in the top of the seventh to claim a 10-8 victory.

"I was very happy with the kids' intensity," said DL head coach Steve Fuhs. "They stepped it up against some higher level of competition. Defensively, they made the plays they had to and executed well."

A switch at shortstop aided DL's defense, with the more-experienced Joe Schiller taking over the position. The junior made several tough plays, including an over-the-shoulder catch in shallow center field in the fourth inning to end a possible rally, as Moorhead had runners on first and second.

"Joe made some great plays out there," Fuhs said. "And the outfield made all the catches. (Left fielder) Marcus Mooney had a nice game and caught the balls he was supposed to."

But the Spuds would spoil a couple of DL comebacks, after putting together two singles and a double in the top of the seventh to score twice and break an 8-8 tie. Laker pitcher Alex Provo threw most of the game, going 6.2 innings, giving up 11 hits and 10 runs.

"This was the first time out for Alex, and he was doing well with his offspeed stuff and produced a lot of fly balls and throwing strikes," Fuhs said. "But I probably left him in there too long."

The Lakers set the tone early, with Provo setting the Spuds down in order and lead-off hitter Kyle Danner producing a double to spark DL.

Danner would advance on right fielder Jack Kippen's walk with bases loaded, with DL missing a fine opportunity to put an early gap on Moorhead by only notching one run and leaving the bases juiced.

Provo handled the Spuds in the second, but the visitors would strike with four runs in the third off of three singles and a walk for the 4-1 lead. That was followed by a run scored by Fulmer in the third, after singling and taking home on a Matt Huberty safety.

A quick swing by senior first baseman Zach Fulmer gave DL a 5-4 lead, after he shot a ringer over the centerfield fence for a three-run homer, scoring Danner and catcher Jake Kiebke.

Fulmer's bat production has gone up the last few games, which has been key to the Lakers' offensive output.

"Zach carried us in the first part of the game, and he is key in the middle of the lineup," said Fuhs of Fulmer, who also drew an intentional walk late in the game. "We have had good production from the top of the lineup, but we are still looking for some more consistency at the bottom of the order."

The fireworks would just be starting, though, as Moorhead tallied three in fifth, but DL regained the edge in the fifth with three runs of its own for the 8-7 margin, coming off some wild pitches by the Spud hurler and a Moorhead error.

That led to an 8-8 tie with the Spuds gaining a run in the sixth, as the Lakers saved an extra run after Danner made a relay from center to second baseman Brock Bormann. He threw out a Moorhead runner at the plate for the third out.

The Laker defense threw two runners out at the plate, while committing just one error on the day.

Fulmer finished the day by going 3-5 with four RBI. Also contributing to the DL eight-hit attack was Danner, with two hits and two runs scored.

The loss drops the Lakers to 1-2-1, with the tie coming in Crosby-Ironton Tuesday after play was suspended due to darkness.

The Lakers clobbered the Rangers in game one, 11-4, but faltered in the second after losing a 4-1 lead, as C-I scored three in each of the fifth and sixth innings.

Huberty picked up the first win of the season for DL, throwing a complete game while giving up eight hits and four earned runs. He struck out nine and walked none.

The Lakers finished with 11 hits, as Danner, Schiller and Bormann had two apiece. Provo added two RBI in the victory.

The Lakers' top three hitters -- Danner, Kiebke and Schiller -- each delivered two hits, while Provo notched two to pace the team's 10 hits.

But some timely hits by the Rangers in each of the sixth and seventh frames enabled the home team to tie the game at 7-7, with the final inning be called due to darkness.

Schiller pitched in his second game of the season, allowing seven hits and seven runs in five innings of work. Huberty pitched the final frame, allowing nothing and striking out one.

The Lakers will travel to Park Rapids Tuesday for a Mid-State contest, with a double header beginning at 4 p.m.