Laingsburg at Saranac – – Baseball Doubleheader – – Game 1 – – The Bleacher Denizen – – May 11, 2023 – – by Chuck Krafft

In this rollicking (at least in my opinion) piano version of Red River Valley, I let the readers know that you never know where the Red River Valley will lead you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w03AhhNk1M8

Unfortunately, one place where it does not lead is Saranac. However, the David Highway does, so today, your Bleacher Denizen is off to Saranac where the Red Hawks will host the Wolfpack from Laingsburg in a baseball game. This is the first time, I have ever seen Saranac’s baseball field and it is in a really nice setting where the field is surrounded by a wooded grove.

Here are the starting lineups for Game 1. Saranac is the home team and Laingsburg will bat first.

LAINGSBURG WOLFPACK:

Dom Garcia cf

Emilio Garcia 1b

Ty Randall p

Hayden Johnston lf

Cam Ballard 2b

Jackson Audretsch c

Elliott Wilsey rf

Nick Regan ss

Kyle Thelen dh

Tommy Gousetis will play third base, but will not bat.

SARANAC RED HAWKS:

Max Olsen ss

Cam Cook 1b

Warren Hill p

Grady Proctor 3b

Sam Sterzick 2b

Chase Stephens cf

Evan Johnson lf

Maddox Foster c

Travis Whipple dh

Mitch Jackson will play right field, but will not bat.

It is now time to review the events of this game through the eyes of an aging Bleacher Denizen to always delighted umpires and opposing catchers with the windy breezes generated by his flailing attempts to swing the bat.

Dom Garcia walked to lead off the top of the first inning for the Wolfpack and stole second base. Despite a fine diving effort by Chase Stephens in center field, Emilio Garcia’s drive dropped in for a single that drove in Dom Garcia. Saranac Catcher Maddox Foster zinged a throw to second base to nail the runner trying to advance on the throw home.

Ty Randall singled to center field. Saranac Catcher Maddox Foster zinged another throw to second base to catch the runner stealing. Red Hawk Pitcher Warren Hill retired the next hitter on a grounder to third base to end the inning.

Laingsburg scored one run in the top of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead.

Max Olsen singled to lead off the bottom of the second inning for Saranac. Wolfpack Pitcher Ty Randall retired the next two hitters on a foul popup to the catcher and a strikeout. Max Olsen took second base on a wild pitch. Ty Randall struck out the next hitter to end the inning.

Saranac Pitcher Warren Hill struck out the Laingsburg leadoff batter in the top of the second inning and retired the next hitter on a grounder to the second baseman. Nick Regan was hit by a pitch. Warren Hill struck out the next batter to end the inning.

Ty Randall retired the three Red Hawk second inning hitters on a soft liner to short, a grounder to first base and a strikeout.

Dom Garcia walked to lead off the top of the third inning for Laingsburg. The next hitter lined out to Pitcher Warren Hill, who quickly got the ball to first base to double off the runner. Ty Randall walked and took second base when Hayden Johnston was safe at first on an error. Cam Ballard doubled to right field to drive in Ty Randall and Hayden Johnston. Laingsburg made the third out of the inning on a grounder to second base.

Laingsburg scored two runs in the top of the third inning to increase its lead to 3-0.

Saranac’s leadoff batter in the bottom of the third inning was out on a grounder to the shortstop. At this point, the Bleacher Denizen’s pen, who was only in its second varsity game had a traumatic moment and stopped writing. Many pens have a difficult time dealing with the stress of varsity athletics. I went to the bullpen (or we could call it a shirt pocket, I suppose) to get a relief pen so I could finish the game. I’m sure the other pens in the bullpen will work with the traumatized pen to work things out.

This is sad; it’s enough to make a grown man say, “Alas!!”

Travis Whipple ignored the Bleacher Denizen’s pen’s angst as he was safe at first on an error. Travis Whipple advanced to second base on a groundout to shortstop by Max Olsen. Laingsburg First Baseman Emilio Garcia made an alert throw to third base when Travis Whipple aggressively rounded second base and held him there. The next Red Hawk batter was out on a bouncer to the pitcher to end the inning.

Elliott Wilsey was hit by a pitch to lead off the top of the fourth inning for Laingsburg. Saranac Catcher Maddox Foster fired the ball to second base to catch yet another runner trying to steal. The next Wolfpack batter was out on a grounder to the shortstop. Kyle Thelen belted a double to left field. Red Hawk Pitcher Warren Hill retired the next batter on a grounder to second base to end the inning.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Ty Randall retired the three Red Hawk hitters on foul popup to first base and two strikeouts.

Laingsburg’s leadoff batter in the top of the fifth inning was out on a fly to left field. Ty Randall walked. Hayden Johnston hit a double to deep center field and Ty Randall scored. Hayden Johnston advanced to third base when Cam Ballard was safe at first base on an error. Jackson Audretsch pounded a double to deep center field to drive in Hayden Johnston and Cam Ballard. The next Wolfpack batter was out on a fly to center field. Nick Regan beat out an infield single. Saranac Catcher Maddox Foster made another excellent throw to catch the Wolfpack trying to steal second.

Laingsburg scored three runs in the top of the fifth inning to boost its lead to 6-0.

Ty Randall struck out the first two Red Hawk batters in the bottom of the fifth inning and got the third out on a fly to center field.

Warren Hill retired the three Wolfpack sixth inning batters on a strikeout, a grounder to first base and a grounder to second base that Emilio Garcia almost beat out.

Travis Whipple beat out an infield single to lead off the button of the sixth inning for Saranac. Ty Randall retired the next Red Hawk hitter on a fly to right field. Travis Whipple advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Ty Randall retired the next two batters on a popup to third base and a grounder to third base to end the inning.

Ty Randall singled to left center to lead off the top of the seventh inning for Laingsburg. Warren Hill struck out the next Wolfpack hitter. Ty Randall went to second base on a wild pitch and took third base when Cam Ballard was safe at first on an error.

Sam Sterzick came in to pitch for the Red Hawks. Warren Hill went to first base and Cam Cook took over at second base.

Ty Randall and Cam Ballard executed a double steal; Ty Randall scored and Cam Ballard too second base. Red Hawk Center Fielder Chase Stephens made a great sliding catch of a drive by Jackson Audretsch to record the Wolfpack’s second out. Cam Ballard went to third base when Nick Regan beat out an infield single. Sam Sterzick struck out the next batter to end the inning.

Laingsburg scored one run in the top of the seventh inning to push its lead to 7-0.

Ty Randall retired the Red Hawk leadoff batter in the bottom of the seventh inning on a fly to left field. Sam Sterzick walked and stole second base. Ty Randall picked the runner off second base. Saranac made the final out of the game on a grounder to first base.

Laingsburg won the first game of this doubleheader 7-0.

Max Olsen and Travis Whipple each had a single for Saranac.

Warren Hill pitched six and one third innings. He struck out three batters. Sam Sterzick struck out one batter and gave up zero runs while pitching two thirds of an inning.

Cam Ballard and Jackson Audretsch each had a double and two RBI for Laingsburg. Hayden Johnston had a single, a double and one RBI. Nick Regan and Ty Randall each had two singles. Kyle Thelen had a double. Emilio Garcia had a single and one RBI.

Ty Randall pitched a complete game two hit shutout for Laingsburg. He struck out seven Red Hawk batters.

Here is a play by play of the second game! https://thebleacherdenizen.com/2023/05/12/laingsburg-at-saranac-baseball-doubleheader-game-2-the-bleacher-denizen-may-11-2023-by-chuck-krafft/