Knights Win 6th League Game in a Row, Defeating North Branch

Hinckley hosted North Branch on Friday night.

The Nighthawks came into the night a half game behind 2nd place in their division. So a win could help them overtake that spot. On the other side, Hinckley had come in having won 5 in a row and sit a game and a half behind the top team in their division.

North Branch would strike first, a leadoff error then no long after an RBI put them on the board first. Although the Knights were able to draw two walk to start their half of the 1st, they could not bring them around to score. In the 2nd inning the Nighthawks were hitless, which was a stark contrast from the Knights. Hinckley went out and grabbed 4 hits and 4 runs to take the lead 4-1, thanks to TJ Johnson who hit a two run shot over the left field fence. The teams flip flopped in the 3rd, North Branch scored 2 runs on the same amount of hits, while Hinckley was held without a hit. The 4th inning was an explosion of runs to say the least. The Nighthawks scored three runs on 2 hits, and Hinckley not to be outdone scored 5 runs on 3 hits. And while the Knights lead 9-6 it looks as if the game was headed for a slugfest. But all that seem to come to a screeching halt in the 5th inning. North Branch did all they could to get one hit but that's all they could muster up. Hinckley fared a bit better getting 2 runs to score on a single hit, but compared to the inning prior seemed like a bit of a slump, especially after drawing three walks. But then came the 6th inning. Ben Sickler the Knights starting pitcher had really started to get hot and showed it in the 6th keeping the Nighthawks off the board. But the bottom of the inning saw an intrusion of runs for the Knights. They scored 8 runs on 4 hits and drew three walks while adding another via hit by pitch. Now with a comfortable 19-6 lead there wasn't much left for them to do but finish it off. And after sitting for what felt like a eternity, Sickler did come out to finish the game in the 7th and sealed the win.

The Knights would lose on Saturday to Sartell, but that doesn't affect their division standings, as they still sit 1.5 games behind Princeton in 1st.

Pitching

Hinckley: Ben Sickler 7 innings, 7 hits, 6 runs( only 3 earned), 2 walks, 7 K's

Player of the game: Bryce Hipp 2-4, 2 RBI's drew 2 walks, and threw a player out from his catcher spot