Early Riverdog burst too much for Flames

HOWARDS GROVE — The Howards Grove Riverdogs broke fast from the gate Friday and never looked back.

A five-run first inning powered the home team to an 8-3 Land O’ Lakes Northern Division win over the Plymouth Flames.

The Flames opened the scoring in the game when leadoff hitter Evan Walsh reached on an error and came around to score on singles by Greg Rhude and Paul Gloede in the top of the first.

But the Riverdogs got that back, and more, in their half of the frame.

Flames starter and loser Ryan Wachter walked the first two Riverdog batters, Jake Schoemann and P.J. Weber. After Matt Schroeder sacrificed them over, Andy Vogt plated them both with a single to right.

Following Chris Menart’s single, Justin Poirier singled in one run and Camryn Hurtienne drove in two more with another single.

Wachter got out of the inning with no further damage when Hurtienne was thrown out stealing and Elliott Thieleke struck out, but the Riverdogs had a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

“Getting down 5-1 early hurt, but we battled back,” Flames player-manager Rick Meyer commented.

The Flames cut into the margin in the top of the second when Nick Wilson singled leading off and, one out later, Eric Heidenreiter belted a two-run homer to right.

Schroeder slammed the door on the Flames the rest of the way. The Flames biggest threat came in the fifth, when they got the two leadoff batters on, but failed to score.

“We weren’t able to sacrifice the runners over and that hurt,” Meyer said of the fifth inning.

The Riverdogs stretched their lead in the bottom of the fifth when Schroeder hit a solo home run, then added two more in the seventh on Menart’s two-out, two-run single.

“Wachter settled down well after the first inning,” Meyer said. “Heidenreiter, Rhude and Travis Christenson hit well,” contributing two hits apiece for the Flames, who outhit the Riverdogs 10-9.

Wachter struck out six but gave up five walks in his 6 2/3 innings of work. Christenson finished up the game for the Flames.

Schroeder pitched a complete game to get the win for Howards Grove, striking out five and walking four.

Collecting two hits each for the Riverdogs were Schroeder, Vogt and Menart.