Jul. 9—MINNEAPOLIS — Mitchell splits its first two games at the Gopher Classic on Friday. Mitchell defeated Eagan Patriots in Game 1 4-2 and lost to Hike Real Estate Seniors in Game 2 6-5.
In Game 1, Mitchell was down 2-0 by the third inning. At the bottom of the fourth, Parker Bollinger singled to the infield for Mitchell’s first hit of the game. Two batters later, Eagan made an error which brought Ty Neugebauer to first and Bollinger home to get Mitchell on the board.
In the sixth inning, Eagan would commit two more errors bringing home three Mitchell runners making it a 4-2 score.
Mitchell finished this one with one lone hit by Bollinger, an RBI double by Jace Larson, and as a team, only committed two errors.
Jake Helleloid pitched all seven innings for Post 18. He allowed six hits and two runs, but struck out six batters.
In Game 2, Mitchell was playing catch up since the bottom of the first inning.
Hike Real Estate scored its first two runs off an error by first baseman Landon Waddell. Immediately following that up with a base hit by Blake Urwin to make it a 3-0 lead for Post 339.
In the third inning, each team would trade two runs making the score 5-2. In the fifth, an RBI by Joe VanOverschelde cut the lead to two for Post 339. After a single to left field by Landen Johnson, Mitchell trailed by three heading into the seventh inning.
After one out and two batters on, Jace Larson singles to left field bringing home VanOverschelde to cut the lead back to two. A single by Mason Geraets cut the deficit to one in hopes that Mitchell might tie or even take the lead. Next batter Carson Fahey grounds out into a double play by third baseman Urwin and first baseman Jon Finan, ultimately ending the first day for Mitchell at the Gopher Classic.
Larson finished with a team high three hits for Mitchell while Jonah Schmidt and Fahey had two each. Geraets, Ryan McGinnis, Jake Helleloid, and Seth Muth all chipped in with one hit each.
Schmidt took the loss in this one pitching 5 2/3 innings for Mitchell. He struck out four batters but he allowed five hits and six runs.
Mitchell Post 18 (14-23) plays back-to-back games against Excelsior No. 2 (Minn.) and Rogers (Minn.), Saturday starting at 2 p.m. Post 18 closes pool play on Sunday against Mankato (Minn.) National at 9 a.m.
If Mitchell wins its pool, it would play in the Round of 16 on Monday.