The Hastings Raiders, fresh off a disappointing loss to Simley where they led by 5 only to get walked off in the 7th, needed a bounce back game, and boy did they respond in a big way.
The Raiders got it started with two runs in the top of the first inning, and after only allowing one Pioneer base runner, the Raiders would extend the lead to 6-0 after 2 with a 4 run 2nd inning. They kept their foot on the gas in the 3rd, adding another four runs to put a suffocating 10-0 lead on Hill-Murray. The Pioneers, who beat Mahtomedi for the first time in years one day prior, had no answer for the Raiders, being shutout until the 5th inning. Hastings added 4 more runs over the course of the 4th and 5th inning to score in every inning in the contest, and earn a convincing win in Maplewood 14-1.
Almost every Raider that batted got a hit, with Tanner Anselment, Blake Vandehoef and Connor Zgoda all getting one hit, and Mitch Iliff, Sawyer Tjomsland, Evan Nelson and Cade Kimmes all recording two. Nelson also launched a 3 run home run in the contest to really put the Pioneers to bed. Raiders got RBIs from Nelson (4), Anselment (2), DeNoyer (2), Zgoda (1) and Kimmes (1). DeNoyer had two doubles, while Kimmes and Nelson each had one. Iliff also added a triple for the Raiders as the team recorded a total of 14 hits and 11 RBIs and was walked just 4 times and struck out just 5 times.
Al Hendrickson pitched a complete game, going all 5 innings with 3 hits, 1 run, 1 earned, 2 walks and 7 strikeouts. He was also walked one time in the batting order.
