Tintor blanks Rails on five-hitter
By Gary Giombetti, Sports Editor
Hibbing Daily Tribune, April 30, 1996

HIBBING -- After four consecutive defeats, Tim Scott figured it was about time his Hibbing High School baseball team picked up a win.

So the Bluejackets mentor sent junior Jamie Tintor out to the mound against Proctor Wednesday at Al Nyberg [Field] in Bennett Park.

Tintor responded with a five-hitter as Hibbing beat the Rails, 1-0, in a non-conference affair.

Not only was Tintor effective, but the 'Jackets defense also turned in a stellar performance, committing only two errors. That wasn't the case the last time Tintor pitched against Sauk Rapids.

"We didn't play very well behind him that game," Scott said. "This was a big game to restore some confidence in the kids that we do belong. Jamie kept his fielders on their toes."

Tintor tried to erase those memories during this outing. "I just wanted to throw the ball across the plate and hope the fielding came together," Tintor said. "It turned out that way."

Tintor made it easier on everybody by throwing strikes. He only allowed one lead-off hitter to reach base, a Ben Carlson single in the fifth.

"What helped me out was the first batter," Tintor said. "I had a full count on him, then I struck him out and it went on from there.

"Getting the lead-off batter helped me. I get distracted when guys get on base and that helped me there. I didn't walk anybody and that's what won the game for us."

His counterpart, Nathan Bush, was just as effective, giving up just three Hibbing hits, but an error in the third inning opened the door for the Bluejackets to score.

Bob Bussey reached on that error and eventually came around to score on a fielder's choice groundout by Ryan Garrity. It could have been worse for the Rails, but left fielder Mike Bolf made a diving catch off the bat of Tom Dicklich to save extra bases.

"They played good defense," Scott said. "That left fielder kept us out of a big inning with that catch."

Proctor's best opportunity to score came in the fifth as Ben Carlson singled and took second on a passed ball. With one out, Josh Watkins reached on a throwing error.

Carlson, who had to wait for the throw to go to first before he could run, ran around third and headed for home. Hibbing right fielder Robbie LaTendresse threw a perfect strike to catcher Jake Stalboerger for the second out.

"We hadn't scored yet, so we had a chance and we sent him," Proctor coach Jim Bordson said. "It didn't work out. If we had to do it over again we wouldn't send [him] but it's a split second decision.

"We thought the ball got away a little farther. It was a perfect throw into the wind. Everything was in our favor of going for it."

But defense was the name of the game for [the] 'Jackets all day.

"We had to tighten up our defense, and we did a great job," Scott said. "You don't have to make super plays, you have to make the routine plays to win in high school baseball.

"I'm glad we came out on top."

Stalboerger, Dicklich and B.J. Willis had Hibbing's three hits.

 

Hibbing 1 - Rails 0

Nathan Bush pitched a three-hitter and Ryan Payne had two hits [both doubles] but it wasn't enough as Proctor gave Hibbing their only win of the season.

A third-inning run for the Bluejackets was enough as they shutout the Rails, 0 - 1.

(Proctor Journal, May 9, 1996)