Baseball roundup: Alexandria gets head coach Jake Munsch his 100th career win

The Alexandria baseball team got head coach Jake Munsch his 100th career win on Tuesday.

The Cardinals (13-5) jumped on Moorhead (9-8) with four first-inning runs. They never looked back as they beat the Spuds 10-0 in five innings.

It is the eighth win of the season against a Section 8-4A team for Alexandria. That has the Cardinals, playing out of Section 8-3A, ranked sixth in the Class 3A QRF through Minnesota-scores.net.

“Getting 100 wins is awesome, but it simply isn't possible without our outstanding assistant coaches and players,” Munsch said. “Each of us has an equal share in this accomplishment and all should be recognized for it. I am just fortunate to be able to work and coach with all of it. I am proud of the Alexandria community for the generous support they give to the baseball programs through volunteer coaching and donations that allows us to have competitive teams year after year. Obviously, our summer programming and tremendous work of the AYBA has a lot to do with it as well. We simply wouldn't be able to provide the opportunities for our athletes without all of their hard work. We all work together to make Alexandria baseball successful.”

Lake Hagen led Alexandria’s offense against the Spuds with two hits, three RBIs and three runs scored. Hagen, Nate Hammerback and Jaxon Schoenrock all doubled. JD Hennen and Hammerback each drove in two runs.

Schoenrock tossed another gem as he went all five innings. The junior posted the shutout by scattering five hits and a walk, while striking out five.

This was the third shutout in the last four games and sixth shutout of the season for the Cardinals’ pitching staff. They have a team ERA of 2.01 and are holding opponents to a Section 8-3A-low 2.8 runs per game.

Alexandria has won four straight since a three-game losing streak from May 10-13.

“We have been playing really well as of late,” Munsch said. “Biggest noticeable difference is just the energy they have brought to the games. We continue to pitch well and have been getting timely hits. We hope to be playing our best baseball come next week during sections. Last couple of games we have played very well. Hopefully we can keep it rolling.”

The Cardinals host Detroit Lakes (12-4) for a doubleheader in the regular-season finale on Thursday starting at 4 p.m.

MOORHEAD     000 00 - 0 5 3

ALEXANDRIA   401 41 - 10 11 0

ALEXANDRIA PITCHING - Jaxon Schoenrock - W, 5IP, 5H, 0R, 0ER, 1BB, 5SO

ALEXANDRIA OFFENSE - Reed Reisdorf - 1-3, 1 run; Devin Cimbura - 1-1; Brock Lerfald - 1-3, 1 run; Wyatt Mohr - 1-1; Caleb Runge - 1-3, 1 run; Spencer Schmidt - BB, RBI; Lake Hagen - 2-3, 2B, 3 runs, 3 RBI; Jaxon Schoenrock - 2-3, 2B, 2 runs, RBI; JD Hennen - 1-2, 2 RBI; Nate Hammerback - 1-1, 2B, BB, 2 RBI; Grady Anderson - 0-3, RBI; Will Suchy - 0-2, BB, 2 runs

The Ashby Arrows improved to 14-1 with a 13-3 win on Tuesday over the Sebeka Trojans (4-11).

Ashby had 11 hits, with Matson Hoff leading the way by going 3-for-3 on the day.

“We hit the ball really well. It was especially fun to see Max Gronwold get his first varsity hit,” Ashby head coach Jared Larson said.

Brodie Ecker got the scoring started for the Arrows in the first inning with a two-RBI double.

The Arrows’ biggest inning came in the fourth with five runs. Hunter Norby hit a home run in the inning and Torin Olson had an RBI hit as well.

Carter Spangler pitched the first three innings for the Arrows and earned the win on the mound. Spangler allowed zero runs, one walk and two hits while striking out four batters. Norby and Carson Spangler finished off the game for the Arrows in relief.

Ashby is currently ranked ninth in the Class A QRF on Minnesota-Scores.net, the second-highest rated team in the rankings from the Section 6A North behind New York Mills (12-2, 2-0 Section 6A).

The Arrows wrap up the regular season with a doubleheader in Wheaton on Thursday against the Border West Buccaneers (7-5, 6-2 Section 6A) and a home game on Friday against Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg (16-0, 4-0 Section 6A) at 5 p.m.

The Buccaneers are the fourth-highest rated team in the Section 6A South, while KMS is the highest-rated in the section and is rated second in Class A.

Brandon-Evansville had a 7-1 lead in a game on Tuesday against Ottertail Central. The Bulldogs came back to make it a one-run game but couldn’t get over the hump as the Chargers held on to get the road victory.

Brady Perleberg earned the win on the mound for the Chargers while Tyler Bitzan had the save.

“It was nice to get some solid relief pitching from Brady Perleberg and Tyler Bitzan when we needed it, and the defense played clean baseball,” B-E head coach Brian Perleberg said. “Tyler Bitzan, Hunter Koep and Jayden Hoidhal swung the bat well and we will continue working to improve the little things that help you to be successful. We have to give credit to OTC for their never-die attitude that allowed them to make a big rally in the last couple innings.”

The Chargers had seven hits in the game, led by Bitzan and Hoidahl who had multiple hits. Brady Perleberg had four strikeouts in the three innings he pitched.

B-E (Class A) improves to 9-7, while Ottertail Central (Class AA) falls to 8-11.

The Chargers will look for its 10th win of the season on Thursday against the Hancock Owls (0-8, 0-6 Section 6A) at 4 p.m. The Chargers are currently rated fourth in the Section 6A North.

(Stats not yet available)

Long Prairie-Grey Eagle (6-7) 10, Osakis (8-8) 9

Morris Area-Chokio-Alberta (16-3) 10, West Central Area (3-11) 0