Rapids beats Proctor for 7AA championship
Duluth News Tribune, June 9, 1982
by TOM PETERSON staff writer
GRAND RAPIDS -- Ron Renner's first home run of his high school career lifted Grand Rapids to a 7-3 win over Proctor and its sixth straight Region 7AA baseball title Tuesday night.
Renner, [Rapids] senior first baseman, rapped a fastball from Ray Miles over the fence in straightaway left field with two outs and two on in the [Rapids] four-run fifth inning.
"I've been getting razzed about my hitting all year," said Renner. "I guess it was good timing."
Proctor Coach Rich Petersson was more direct.
"Renner's home run was the biggest play of the game," he said.
The homer gave Grand Rapids a 5-0 lead after 4 1/2 innings, and that looked pretty good for [Rapids] starter Todd Venema, who had struggled early before striking out the side in the fourth.
But Grand Rapids Coach Bob Streetar pulled Venema when he walked No. 8 hitter Steve Lent and went to 2-0 on Craig Pionk.
"I knew he was tired and was about done," said Streetar, whose team takes a 15-3 record to the state tournament in Chaska next week.
In came sophomore Mark Sonaglia, who walked Pionk and two of the next three batters he faced. A walk to cleanup hitter Tony Dincau brought in one run and singles by Jay Anderson and pinch hitter Ed Chicos each brought in a run.
Sonaglia, who tossed a no-hitter against Denfeld this season, struck out Miles and designated hitter Jeff Dahl to end the inning with the bases loaded.
"I knew he was nervous," Streetar said. "I almost pulled him. Mark usually throws strikes."
Proctor, which left seven runners on base, did not have a chance the rest of the way. Sonaglia got two pop-ups and a strikeout to retire the side in order in the sixth. He struck out the Rails' second, fourth and fifth hitters to end the game.
Grand Rapids, meanwhile, put the game out of reach on Rian Reed's two-run double in the sixth. [Rapids] picked up their first run in the first inning.
Miles was the strongest in the second through fourth innings. He retired the side in order in the second and third and faced only four batters in the fourth.
Venema and Sonaglia combined on a five-hitter with 13 strikeouts. Miles gave up six hits and struck out eight. Proctor finishes 11-9.
"They were beatable," Petersson said, lamenting that the Rails had stranded four runners in the first three innings. "We had our chances early."...
Rapids take two for state trip
Grand Rapids Herald-Review, June 9, 1982
Rapids 7 -- Proctor 3
Gaining the Region 7AA finals with a 7-3 first-round win over St. Francis in a 1 p.m. Tuesday game, Proctor came to Legion field for the nightcap championship with winning in mind.
Astute ball playing by [Rapids] dashed any hope of advancement for the Rails as Venema and Sonaglia teamed for an unearned run game [sic].
Pulling visitor designation in the coin toss, [Rapids was] first at bat and first on the scoreboard.
Reed struck out and Bob Streetar walked to begin the game. After a Kellin strikeout, Renner, with a delightful night at the plate, began the evening with a single to right. The ball slipped by Jay Anderson to bring Streetar home for a one-run lead.
Bruce LaRoque walked to put Renner in scoring position but designated hitter Yelle fell the way of [the] three-strike route.
After a brilliant ending earlier in the day, Venema faced the initial batter and allowed a first-pitch single to left for Tim Sundstrom. A sacrifice bunt moved the runner to second.
A ground ball to Bob Streetar at shortstop was thrown over the head of first baseman Renner to put runners at second and third base. With Sundstrom on the corner and Tony Dincau on second, Venema threw a full-count ball to Anderson. Making a fantastic play at home on an Anderson ground ball to Kellin at third, Kellin and catcher Rom Holum nailed Sundstrom at the plate for the second out.
Venema got out of a tough inning by striking out Bill Norton.
A three up, three down, two-strikeout inning game [Rapids] little chance to widen the gap in the top of the second inning.
After a second throwing error by Bob Streetar to allow lead-off hitter pitcher Ray Miles to reach first, Venema settled in on the mound for a strikeout and two ground ball outs to end the inning.
Reed grounded out and Bob Streetar and Kellin retired on strikeouts to end the top of the third inning.
Venema struck out the first two Rails batters in the next inning buyt a passed ball by catcher Ron Holum allowed Tom Peterson to achieve first. Holum made up for the error with the next batter by retrieving a foul ball for a put out. A hit to the pitcher and a ground ball from second baseman Mike Streetar to Renner ended the inning.
A Renner walk was the only bright spot in the top of the fourth when a sacrifice bunt and two infield outs ended speculation that he would reach home.
Venema as awesome in the bottom of the fourth, with three strikeouts against the Rails and [Rapids] broke the game wide open in [its] half of the fifth.
Grina smashed a solid stand-up double to left field just inside the foul line to set the stage for a back-to-back double by Mike Streetar, also of the stand-up variety, to score Grina for a 2-zip lead. Reed singled and Bob Streetar sacrificed Mike Streetar to the corner while Reed holed up at second.
Kellin hit into a fielder's choice and Mike Streetar was out at the plate. A mound conference by Proctor resulted in no pitching change and Kellin stole second on the next pitch.
Renner walked to the plate with confidence after a previous hit. Wasting little time, he clobbered his first home run of the season and career for three RBI and [a Rapids] 5-0 advantage.
With the score 5-0, Bruce LaRoque walked on four pitches but Yelle ended the inning with a strikeout.
After a walk to Ray Miles and a 2-0 count to Craig Pionk, Venema left the mound in favor of sophomore Mark Sonaglia.
Sonaglia walked Pionk before Renner but out Sundstrom on a one-man effort ground ball.
With runners in scoring position, Sonaglia walked Peterson to load the bases.
A three-ball count, which turned into a full count, ended in a walk and a walked-in unearned run for Proctor. A late play at first base from second baseman Streetar allowed another unearned run to put the score at 5-2.
Still unsettled, Sonaglia permitted a single to lef off the bat of Ed Chicos to score another unearned run.
Realizing trouble was ahead, Sonaglia got down to serious business and struck out Miles and Jeff Dahl to end the inning.
Grina walked to open the sixth inning and a passed ball got him to second before Mike Streetar walked with one out.
Reed singled to right and the ball passed the outfielder for an error. After scoring Grina and Streetar, Reed was out a third attempting to go for an extra base.
A ground ball out by Bob Streetar ended the inning and the runs in the game.
Sonaglia provided a grand finale by striking out the Rails in their half of the seventh while facing four hitters.
Rapids pitchers collected 13 strikeouts to a dozen for Proctor.
[Rapids] advance[s] to Minnesota State High School League play with a 4:30 p.m. game Tuesday, June 15.