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Hermantown rebounded from its first baseball loss of the season last Monday, 3-2 at Rock Ridge, with a doubleheader sweep at North St. Paul, 3-1 and 10-7 on Tuesday at Kuenkel Field in Maplewood, and a resounding victory at Hibbing, 14-3, Friday at Al Nyberg Field.
“We ran into a great arm in Dylan Hedley at Rock Ridge and I think we’ve played our best baseball of the season since,” Hawks coach Billy Tafs said Sunday night. “Anytime you can go to the Twin Cities and pick up a couple wins against some of the big boys it breeds confidence.
“Our hitters struggled against Rock Ridge, but got back on track against North St. Paul and Hibbing. Dawson Rannow went five-for-five against Hibbing and raised his batting average to over .600 for the season. Carter Gunderson and Caden Olson also had a great week at the plate.”
Starting catcher River Freeman, a sophomore and arguably the team’s best college and pro prospect, earned his first pitching start of the season in the opener against North St Paul.
“River didn’t disappoint, throwing a complete-game one-hitter with 11 strikeouts, to collect his first win of the season,” said Tafs.
The Hawks (9-1) will visit Superior today and will face Duluth Marshall in their 2023 home opener at 4:30 Wednesday at historic Fichtner Field.
Hermantown is also scheduled to host neighborhood rival Proctor next Monday and Grand Rapids Tuesday.
