By Joey Hudson
The Northfield River Rats hosted the number one ranked team in Minnesota, the Farmington Tigers, on Monday, June 19th at Dundas Memorial Park. Tegan Mellgren started on the mound for Northfield and matched up against the Tigers’ Dylan McClure. Mellgren allowed one walk but got out of the first inning unscathed. The River Rats stranded Jake Geiger on third after he singled to lead off the inning.
In the top of the third inning, the Tigers exploded for four runs off four hits, a hit-by-pitch, and an error. Spencer Mellgren came in for relief of his brother in the top of the fourth and sat down Farmington in order. After two innings of being sat down in order in the previous innings, the River Rats threatened to score in the bottom of the fourth. Northfield had the bases loaded and one out with Kyan Rauk up to bat. However, Rauk hit a line drive but right at the Tigers’ shortstop who caught it and stepped on second for an inning-ending double play.
The River Rats got their first runs of the game in the bottom of the fifth when they scored three runs off three walks, a hit, and a fielder’s choice. Farmington loaded up the bases with one out in the top of the sixth but Spencer Mellgren got out of it, striking out one and inducing a flyout. In the top of the seventh, Farmington got three insurance runs off three hits and an error which gave them a 7-3 lead. Tegan Mellgren led off the bottom of the sixth for the River Rats, drawing a walk on an eleven-pitch at bat. He was called out trying to steal second base, however, when Kam Kaiser was called for batter’s interference. Kaiser, then, got a rally going for Northfield with a triple to right field followed by a hit-by-pitch on Seth Thompson. After Farmington got another out Gabe Heinritz drew a walk to load the bases with two outs, followed by Daniel Worden’s walk to score one run. Brayden Sorenson was able to strike out Kyan Rauk to end the game dropping the River Rats’ record to 1-2.
Northfield will play again on Wednesday the 21st in Woodbury to try and get back to a .500 record. You can catch that game and all Legion games on NorthfieldLive.com and stay up to date with all Northfield activities by heading over to NorthfieldLive.com and following us on social media @NorthfiedLive.
