Spartans go 2-1 at Hibbing Wood Bat Classic

HIBBING — The Superior High School baseball team wrapped up play in the Mike Bugliosi Wood Bat Classic with a 15-9 win over the Proctor Rails Saturday afternoon.

The Spartans opened with a 3-0 win over the host Blue Jackets Friday night then lost to Thief River Falls 5-3 Saturday afternoon.

Superior had 13 hits off Proctor pitching, including two home runs by Nik Mattson and another by Colton Yepma.

Superior scored seven runs in the first three innings to build a 7- 2 lead, only to see Proctor come all the way back to take a 9-8 lead on a two-out grand slam by Ben Nelson. The home run came after the Spartans committed a two-out error.

Superior responded with three runs in the sixth and four more in the seventh to win 15-9.

Mattson finished with three hits, three runs and four RBIs. Spencer Severson added two hits, two runs and an RBI; Dane Sislo had two hits and two RBIs; Jordan McDonald had two hits, scored three times and knocked in another; Yepma singled twice and had three RBIs; and Jodan Hughes added a single, sac fly and three RBIs.

Severson picked up the win in relief, allowing four runs (none earned) on two hits in two innings. He also struck out two batters. Ryan Myhre and Grant Rindal pitched the final two innings, each facing three batters and striking out one without surrendering a hit.

“It was great to see us swing the bat so well,” SHS coach Don Dembroski said. “We showed much more discipline at the plate. In addition to having seven different guys get hits, we were able to draw eight walks.

“Another nice thing to see, as we get closer to tournament time, is that we were able to regroup after the grand slam and take the lead back and really take control of the game in the final two innings.”

Dane Sislo suffered the complete-game loss to TRF, allowing five earned run on eight hits and four walks while striking out seven.

“Dane had just the one rough inning in the second, but rebounded nicely after that,” Dembroski said.

Sislo also had had two of Superior’s four hits, including a home run that brought the Spartans within 4-3 in the fifth inning. He also singled in the third inning and scored on a wild pitch.

After hitting a single, Mattson scored Superior’s third run scored on Trent Olson’s sac fly in the fourth inning.

McDonald picked up the complete-game win for the Spartans Friday night, scattering six hits with three strikeouts and two walks.

“Jordan pitched an excellent game and made a few nice plays in the field as well,” Dembroski said. .

Dylan Takkunen suffered the loss for Hibbing, allowing two hits with five strikeouts in his first varsity start. Chris Hanson gave up two more hits in 2/3 of an inning.

After Superior stranded bases loaded in the third inning it scored the only run it needed in the fourth when Olson and McDonald singled, the two moved up on a double steal and Andy Glonek hit a fielder’s choice ground ball to score Olson.

The Spartans sealed the victory in the seventh inning on RBI singles by Rindal and Severson. Scoring were Taavi Mattson, who walked, and Paul Edwards, who was hit by a pitch.

Derek Abrahamson doubled and singled, Austin Rohwer doubled, Tim Carruth singled twice and Berkley Coombe singled for Hibbing.

The Spartans host Northwestern at Tuesday then wrap up the regular season by hosting Duluth East on Thursday. Both games begin at 4:30 p.m.

SPARTAN SPIN: The SHS JV went 0-2 in the Hibbing Wood Bat tournament, losing to Hibbing 12-7 and to Proctor 7-6 in 10 innings. Taavi Mattson, Logan Griffith and Phil McCotter pitched for Superior. Griffith had three hits and Nick Hesselgrave had two. Pete Guski, Erick Anderson and Griffith pitched against Proctor. Peyton Flanders had four hits for the Spartans while Tyler Lehikoinen pitched in with two.

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