Kingsford’s Wyatt Scott connects on a pitch against Negaunee on Thursday afternoon at Irontown Field. Scott had a two-run double, with the Flivvers totaling 11 hits in the 11-4 victory at Negaunee. With the win, Kingsford improved to 6-3 on the season.
Kingsford is slated to travel to Marquette on Monday and then Escanaba on Tuesday. Iron Mountain comes to Lodal Park on Thursday. (Ron Deuter photo)
NEGAUNEE — Rebounding from back-to-back losses, visiting Kingsford outslugged Negaunee 11-4 in a varsity baseball game Thursday afternoon at Irontown Field.
The Flivvers, who improved to 6-3 after the win, tallied a season high with 11 hits, led by Andres Finley with two ground-rule doubles that one-hopped the fence in the left center-field alley. Finley had two RBIs. Wyatt Scott added a two-run double and nearly left the yard with a shot in the fifth that was hauled in by Negaunee’s left fielder with his back up against the fence.
“The bats are starting to come around a little bit,” Flivvers head coach Joe Kriegl said. “We hit the ball. A lot of the time we hit it right at people, but the bats are starting to come around a bit, which is nice to see.”
Nic Novara, who started on the mound, drove in Kingsford’s first run with a single in the first. Nolan Hendrickson shot a two-run single up the middle in the fifth, and Gavin Trevillian brought two in with a two-out single to center in the sixth, helping to Flivvers to a 6-0 lead.
Novara, making his first start since recovering from an arm injury, was lifted in the second. Garrett Brown provided four innings of solid work, recording four strikeouts. Jack Kriegl closed the game out with two innings of relief.
The Flivvers allowed seven hits while fanning seven and walking seven but were able to escape several jams. Negaunee left 12 runners on base in the game, including a couple of bases loaded situations.
The Miners pushed their first two runs across in the fifth and were threatening for more with two on and one out. Negaunee attempted a bunt to move the runners, but the ball was popped just out in front of home. Kriegl, catching at the time, dove straight out for a sensational grab and then fired to first to double up a runner and end the inning.
Negaunee scored twice more in the sixth but left the bases loaded. Kriegl got a chopper out in front of the plate to force a runner at home and then got the next batter to pop out toward the Miners’ dugout.
“The dugout was better, more lively, kids were having a little bit more fun,” coach Kriegl said. “I wanted to play with high energy and I thought we did that tonight and ultimately came out with a victory.
“Victories are nice, but we have other things to concentrate on to get this club in the right direction. We took a step in the right direction so I’m pretty pleased with that.”
The Flivvers suffered their third loss of the season on Wednesday at Gladstone, falling 9-1 to the Braves. It was the second straight loss to the Braves in the week. Gavin Grondin suffered the loss on the mound. Kingsford tallied four hits, including a RBI single by Finley in the sixth inning. Gladstone scored three runs in the first and led 7-0 after four innings.
Kingsford heads to Marquette on Monday and Escanaba on Tuesday. Iron Mountain comes to Lodal Park on Thursday.
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