By Bruce Karnick

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On Monday, April 11, the Raiders played host to the North St. Paul Polars for their second game of the season, picking up a 5-0 win.

Hastings jumped out to the early lead in the bottom of the first. Jackson Schaffer hit a hard ground ball to the shortstop who misplayed it, allowing Schaffer to reach on an error. He then stole second and was advanced to third by Connor Stoffel when Stoffel grounded out to second. Alex Hendrickson hit a double to the left field gap scoring Schaffer. Tanner Anselment hit a grounder to third and the fielder misplayed that, allowing Hendrickson to score and giving the Raiders a 2-0 lead.

The bottom of the second was even better for the Raiders. John Teigland hit a single to right, Evan Nelson hit a grounder to third that was misplayed again for the third error of the game on North, Jackson Schaffer hit a double to left center scoring both runners. Stoffel copied Schaffer with a double to make the game 5-0 Hastings.

From that point forward, the game became a pitchers’ duel with both defenses settling in nicely behind their pitchers. The combination of Hendrickson and Jack Seleski for Hastings held North to no runs on one hit and one error. Hastings had five runs on five hits and four errors.

Schaffer had two runs batted in, while Stoffel, Hendrickson and Anselment each had one. Hastings had a weird day at the plate with a team batting average of .185. The key piece was three of the five hits were doubles with runners in scoring position.

Hastings will host Tartan on April 20 at Veterans Park, then South St. Paul at Grossman Field on April 21. They travel to Mahtomedi on April 22 and return home to play St. Thomas Academy on April 25 also at Vets Park. All the games are scheduled for a 4:30 first pitch.

Photo by Brian Schommer