Lakers hang on to 'W'

By DL News Staff

April 24, 2007 at 11:00 PM

Another close section game almost slipped past the Detroit Lakes baseball team, but this time the Lakers regained a grip on it to pull out the 4-3 victory over visiting Fergus Falls Friday in eight innings.

The Otters would spoil senior Joe Schiller's good game from the mound by notching two unearned runs in the top of the seventh, then surviving a one-out bases loaded situation in the bottom of the frame to force the extra inning.

But the Lakers would not give in, as Jared Swiers gained a one-out walk and ran all the bases on an Adam Thielen hit to score the winning run.

"Again, we had more unearned runs hurt us late in the game," said DL head coach Steve Fuhs. "Our last nine of 10 runs we have given up have been unearned."

An error in the top of the seventh, combined with a lead-off walk and a two-out, two-run single would eventually knock out Schiller, who did pitch seven innings, giving up five hits, no earned runs, walking four and striking out five.

"Joe did a good job, but Fergus Falls put the ball in play," Fuhs said. "He was changing up his speed and was throwing a good curveball. We just have to catch the ball (DL finished with two errors). The good thing is these are physical mistakes and we can work on that."

It seemed as if DL had firm control of the game after senior second baseman Jake Kiebke launched the team's first homerun of the season over leftfield in the bottom of the sixth, which was followed by Schiller scoring after a single, stolen base and a passed ball to put the Lakers up 3-1.

Kiebke now has nine RBIs in four games.

The Lakers (2-2) tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the third, answering an Otter run from the top of the frame. The speedy Thielen would gain first on a one-out walk and later would score on a Fergus Falls' error.

DL collected seven hits in the game, with no batters going for multiple hits.

Brian Arola picked up the win by throwing a scoreless eighth inning.

"Jake's homerun was huge and I thought that would have been enough," Fuhs added. "Again, our seniors are doing the job. It's good to get a section win after losing to Moorhead (Thursday)."

The Lakers will stay in section play when they travel to Bemidji Thursday for a 4:30 p.m. start.

Laker stats

Fergus Falls at Detroit Lakes, Friday, April 20.

Otters 001 000 20 - 3 6 1

Lakers 001 002 01 - 4 7 2

Detroit Lakes

AB R H Bi

K. Danner 3 0 1 0

A. Provo 3 0 1 0

J. Kiebke 3 1 1 1

J. Schiller 3 1 1 0

C. Gilson 4 0 0 0