Hinckley-Finlayson Battles Back for Upset Win Over Aitkin

The Jaguars softball team hosted Aitkin on Wednesday afternoon.

The Gobblers came in as the #2 team in the section and the top team in the conference. While the Jags were coming on a three game losing streak, but also feeling like they had yet to play their best ball.

It was not the best start for the Jags, as the Gobblers were able to score three runs in the 1st inning. But in the same inning the Jags were able to load the bases and have a chance at answering some of those runs. But the Aitkin defense shut that down and we'd move on. Both teams would go 1, 2, 3 in the 2nd inning. Aitkin was able to add on two more runs in the 3rd to make it a 5-0 lead. But once again the Jags loaded the bases and this time they broke through, thanks to a sacrifice fly from Aris Richey to get them on the board. The 4th began with a quick line out, but then two straight hits but the Gobblers in position to score again. They would manage to score a run via a sac fly themselves and extended their lead 6-1. Up to this point the Jags weren't playing bad on either side of the ball. It just felt like we were waiting for their offense to break through. And they did just that and more in the 4th inning. They would score 6 runs on 7 hits while also batting through the entire lineup to give them a 7-6 lead heading into the last half of the game.

Aitkin would continue to apply pressure by being aggressive both at the plate and on the basepaths. They would get a runner on third in the 5th and a runner to second in the 6th but could not score. Meanwhile in the Jags half of the 6th inning their offense would help the defense in a big way. Only leading by one, their offense would score two more runs on two hits to give them a three run lead heading into the 7th inning. All they need was three out, but they were facing the heart of the Gobblers lineup. Aris Richey and the defense saved their best inning for last, forcing three fly outs and securing the win!

While their record doesn't show how good of a team they are, they definitely put their section and the conference on notice with a win like this.

H-F improves to 5-7 on the season and knocks Aitkin out of the top spot in the conference standings. They will host McGregor today and play in Isle against the Raiders on Friday, before getting back to it right away on Monday against Carlton-Wrenshall.

Pitching

Hinckley-Finlayson:

Aris Richey 7 innings, 8 hits, 6 runs, 2 Walks, 5 K's