PREP BASEBALL

MAPLE RIVER – Preston Geerdes’ bases-clearing double during game two of last Saturday’s two-game set against Maple RiverJunior Legion secured a split for Fairmont Post 36 Junior Legion, moving their record to 3-2 on the summer.

Game one

Post 36’s late-game rally wasn’t enough to secure a game one victory, ultimately falling to Maple River 12-9 despite scoring three runs in the top of the sixth. Brock Rodning had three of Fairmont’s 10 total hits to bring in two runs. Caden Wickert also had two RBIs off a pair of singles. Mac Larson was the final Cardinal with multiple hits after two base knocks. Fairmont walked eight times and struck out 10. Rodning’s initial two and two-thirds start saw eight total runs, zero of which were earned, and five strikeouts. Eli Sheard and Louis Grensteiner tallied the final pair of frames and allowed four runs combined. The trio struck out 10 batters, allowed nine hits and walked five.

Game two

After three innings of not generating any runs, Post 36’s lone score in the sixth was followed by three more in the seventh, picking up the 10-9 win. They ended with 11 hits. Three of those hits were from Geerdes, who used his three RBI double in the seventh to walk things off. Wickert and Larson had two hits, with Larson also knocking a double. Grensteiner threw four innings to start, allowing one earned run, before Troy Peterson finished things off. Three of Fairmont’s nine allowed runs were earned.

PREP SOFTBALL

MASON CITY – The North Union softball team dropped both games during its weekend road trip to Mason City this past Saturday, falling to Osage in the morning before losing to Newman Catholic later in the day. The Warriors are now 15-7 on the season and return home on Tuesday afternoon to take on Garner Hayfield Ventura.

Game one

The Green Devils got the final laugh during this back-and-forth contest to open up the day, scoring a handful of late runs to charge past North Union 8-7 in nine innings. North Union finished with eight hits, four of which came from the combined effort of Maisey Bierstedt and Aslynn Sobolik. Both of Sobolik’s hits were home runs, while Bierstedt also knocked one out of the park for her sixth of the season. Ainsley Ulrich, Olivia Price, Brylie Deim and Shallie Walders also recorded a hit. Four of Ulrich’s six total runs were earned against Osage. She gave up eight hits and struck out five on 120 pitches.

Game two

Five innings were all it took for the home team Knights to take down North Union, winning 8-0 after a barrage of offense throughout. Ulrich allowed five runs on 10 hits and five strikeouts. Price and Walders were the only two Warriors to get a hit on Newman Catholic pitcher Sami Kruckenberg, who finished with 13 strikeouts. It was the second time North Union had been shut out this season. The previous mark came against Bishop Heelan on June 13.

AMATEUR BASEBALL

HERON LAKE – Jack Hested threw a complete game, Merritt Pomerenke led the team with three hits and the Fairmont Martins took down the Heron Lake Lakers 12-2 on Sunday afternoon at Laker Field. The Martins move to 7-3 in the summer. Vincent Schultz joined Pomerenke with multiple hits himself, collecting two and driving in a run. Spencer Chirpich, Levi Becker, Joseph Hackett and Gavin Rodning also recorded hits, helping Fairmont finish with nine as a team. Hested allowed eight hits over his start, fanning seven while giving up one earned run. He finished with 110 pitches. Fairmont takes on the Windom Pirates this Wednesday at Island Park. First pitch is set for 7:30 p.m.