BROOKINGS – The Brookings junior legion team split a doubleheader against the Fargo Astros on Thursday night. Fargo took the first game, 15-5, in six innings and the Chutes then won the second game, 13-11.
Brookings is now 11-15 on the season and plays next on July 5. The Chutes will play a doubleheader against Huron at home on that day and the first game is scheduled to start at noon.
Game One
• Fargo 15, Brookings 5 (6 inn.)
It was 5-5 going into the sixth, and then Fargo put a 10 spot on the board and shutout Brookings in the bottom of the inning and ended the game.
Neither team scored in the first inning. Fargo then scored two runs in the top of the second. The Astros scored their runs on a ground out and a wild pitch.
Brookings responded with a run of its own in the bottom of the inning. The Chutes loaded the bases to begin the inning after a catcher’s interference, a walk and a single from Sam Johnson. Tate Helmbolt then hit a sacrifice fly to make it 2-1. Brookings was unable to push anymore runs across the board.
Fargo would extend its lead to 3-1 on a double in the top of the third. The Astros would then add two more runs in the fifth on a hit batter with the bases loaded and an RBI single.
Brookings would tie the game with four runs in the bottom of the fourth. Jack Merritt was hit by a pitch with one out and scored two batters later on a two-out single from Nolan Miles. Winston Plummer followed with a single and Owen Schneider then hit Miles home with a single of his own. Plummer and Schneider would then score on an error and it was 5-5 going into the fifth.
Neither team scored in the fifth and Fargo then broke the game open in the sixth. The 10-run sixth inning was highlighted by a three-run home run to center field from Kolby Nissen.
Brookings went down one-two-three in the bottom of the sixth and the game ended because of the 10-run rule.
Schneider and Miles were each 1-for-3 with an RBI. Johnson was 1-for-3 as well.
Schneider got the start for Brookings and pitched the first four innings. He gave up five runs, three earned, on six hits, with six strikeouts and no walks. Jacob Kahle pitched an inning and a third and gave up two earned runs on no hits, with two walks and no strikeouts.
Griffin Bartels then came in and pitched a third of an inning. He gave up seven runs, five earned, on four hits, with one walk and no strikeouts. Addison Ronning pitched the final two thirds and gave up one unearned run on no hits, with a walk and a strikeout.
Game Two
• Brookings 13, Fargo 11
The Chutes were able to earn the doubleheader split after a back-and-forth game two.
Fargo jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. The Astros scored the two runs on a bases loaded walk and a single.
Brookings would respond with three runs and take the lead in the bottom of the inning. Kahle walked with one out and later scored on an error. Miles hit a single and Schneider was the one who reached on an error. Both of them would then score on a Erickson single to make it 3-2 through one inning.
Neither team scored in the second inning and the Chutes extended their lead to 6-2 in the bottom of the third. They had the bases loaded with no outs after an error, a single and a walk. Miles and Schneider scored on a fielder’s choice to make it 5-2 and Johnson scored on an error for the final run of the inning.
Fargo would regain the lead with seven runs in the top of the fourth. The first two runs came on a single and Andre Werk then blasted a solo home run to give the Astros the lead. The final two runs of the inning came on a single to make it 9-6.
Brookings then cut the lead to 9-8 in the bottom of the inning. Merritt hit a single to lead off the inning and then scored on fielder’s choice. Schneider walked and then scored on a error.
The Chutes then regained the lead with five runs in the fifth. Three-straight singles from David Brink, Helmbolt and Merritt loaded the bases up with one out. Brink then scored on a passed ball and Helmbolt scored on an error to make it 10-9. Merritt scored on a wild pitch and Erickson and Johnson hit back-to-back RBI singles to make it 13-9.
Fargo would score two more runs, but that would be it and Brookings came away with a 13-11 victory.
Erickson was 2-for-2 with two RBIs and Johnson was 1-for-4 with three RBIs. Schneider and Brink were each 1-for-2. Helmbolt was 1-for-3 and Johnson was 1-for-4. Merritt was 2-for-5.
Merritt pitched a complete game for the Chutes. He gave up 11 runs, eight earned, on 14 hits, with six strikeouts and six walks.
