Hawk’s bats quieted in season opening loss

By Johnny Stocker
Posted 5/11/23

After their home opener was cancelled on Friday night, the Hastings Hawks opened their season on Sunday afternoon with a CCVL conference game against the Northfield Knights, falling 6-0.  After …

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Hawk’s bats quieted in season opening loss

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After their home opener was cancelled on Friday night, the Hastings Hawks opened their season on Sunday afternoon with a CCVL conference game against the Northfield Knights, falling 6-0.  After the game started promisingly with Center Fielder Cory Wolters lacing a double off the wall, the team was only able to scratch together three more singles against Northfield pitching.  

Jordan Jeske, the Hawks clear ace pitcher over the last two seasons took the ball Sunday and was cruising for the first three innings, allowing only one hit and one walk while striking out four, but ran into trouble in the fourth.  Northfield strung together three singles surrounding a strikeout to lead off the inning, and then Knights right fielder Ryan Torbinson hit a flare just over second baseman Ben Tiegland’s glove to drive in two and giving the Knights all the offense they would need.  Left fielder Nick Horsch started a nice relay on that play to cut down a runner at third, but then Northfield’s Sam Maus drove the next pitch over the left field fence to open the game up at 4-0.  After the game Jeske and Catcher Jake Sandquist both agreed that the pitch was where they wanted it, but Maus just went out and got it.  Jeske got through the next two innings allowing only one more baserunner on an infield error, but the damage had been done. 

The Hawks did have a few offensive chances in the middle innings.  They had runners on the corners with two outs in the fifth, runners on second and third with nobody out in the sixth, and the bases loaded with one out in the seventh, but couldn’t push anything across, finishing 0-10 with runners in scoring position. 

Wolters was the highlight offensively, going 2-3 with a walk, but was the only Hawk to reach base safely more than once.  However, the team remains confident that as some of their college batters finish up their spring seasons and get into the lineup, the offense will round into shape and start scoring some runs this summer. 

Your next chance to catch the Hawks will be Friday night at 7:30 PM as the Rochester Roadrunners make a visit to Veterans Park in Hastings.  It’s an affordable opportunity for the whole family to come out and see some good baseball, so we’re hoping to see a nice crowd out there.