LIVING ON THE EDGE: HIBBING 9 SURVIVES 1-0 THRILLER WITH PROCTOR
Gary Giombetti, Sports Editor, Hibbing Daily Tribune, May 19, 2017

HIBBING — If Hibbing High School baseball coach Jay Wetzel wants close games to get his team playoff ready, he’s getting exactly what he wants.

In the Bluejackets four losses, the margin of defeat has been three runs or less.

Hibbing found itself in another tight ball game against Proctor at the Mike Bugliosi Wood Bat Classic, and this time, the Bluejackets came out on top by the score of 1-0 Friday at Al Nyberg Field.

Hibbing was living on the edge for much of the game, but the Bluejackets found ways to wiggle out of trouble.

“I don’t know about like, but we’re getting more used to living on the edge,” Wetzel said. “We’ve seen many close ball games recently, and I believe that’s good for us getting ready for the playoffs. You’re going to see tight ball games.

“We saw our kids execute well today. There’s some pressure in games like that. Our boys did a nice job today.”

The Rails had base runners in scoring position against Bluejacket starting pitcher Andy Mickelson, including a two-out double by [John Aase] and a walk to [Bryce Huffman] in the third against Hibbing starting pitcher Andy Mickelson, but he got a strikeout to end that inning.

The Bluejackets, on the other hand, hit into two double plays in the first three innings, against Rails starting pitcher Mason Flick.

Hibbing got a double play to get out of the fourth, then Riley Versich led off with a triple to right-center field in the bottom of the fourth, and the Bluejackets were in business.

Dylan Mattson hit a ground ball to third and when the ball was thrown to first, Versich took off and beat the throw to the plate for the first run of the game.

“Talking about pitch count, we were joking that he could throw the next game and maybe the next game in terms of how efficient he was,” Wetzel said. “That (triple) was a big spark. Riley put a good swing on the ball. His hustle created that play. He sprays the field a little bit, and he drove the gap nicely. His hustle out of the box is huge on that play.

“That’s one where his speed created something for us.”

It would be Proctor getting something going in the top of the fifth as Austin Parrott walked then Jordan Linder singled, ending Mickelson’s day on the mound.

Wetzel brought in Austen Kolden, and [Luke Nordquist] greeted him with a bunt down the third-base line, which he beat our for a single, loading the bases.

The Bluejackets seemed to be in deep trouble.

“We knew it was a bunting situation, and he laid down a perfect bunt,” Wetzel said. “We knew that if we made a few good pitches that we’d be OK. Austen came in and threw some competitive pitches there, and we made some nice defensive plays behind him.

“We were able to wiggle out no runs given up.”

That’s right. Hibbing was able to get out of the inning unscathed as Kolden was as cool as a cucumber when he hit the mound. He knew what he had to do.

“I was just trying to get outs with as less damage as possible,” Kolden said. “I figured I would need a strikeout or a double play to keep them from scoring.”

Kolden got the latter as Aase hit a one-hopper to Mickelson at third. The senior calmly stepped on the base for the force out, then threw home to catcher Jaiman Lamphere for the tag out at the plate.

“Andy made a nice play at third, and got the double play for me,” Kolden said.

Wetzel agreed.

“We saw the play get down the line quick,” Wetzel said. “That’s one where he did a nice job instincts-wise. The ball took him to the base, and he made a nice throw to home. He had all of the time in the world, but sometimes, that’’s a problem when you have too much time.

“He made a nice throw to home. To get the lead two runners off with the bases loaded is pretty big.”

Only that wasn’t it. Huffman singled to re-load the bases, but Kolden got a strikeout out to end the inning.

“That was a huge swing, a big momentum changer,:” Kolden said. “That’s the best thing that could have come out of it. I had to keep making pitches, trying to get one more out to get us out of there.”

Kolden had a easy sixth inning, getting two strikeouts, then he got the first hitter in the seventh before hitting Linder with a pitch.

Kolden struck out the next hitter, then with Aase at the plate, Lamphere teamed with Austin Glad at first base to pick off Linder to end the game.

Mickelson tossed four innings of three-hit ball, striking out three and walking four. Kolden gave up two hits and fanned four.

Flick started for Proctor, tossing a five-hitter and strking out one.

Hibbing was playing Superior in the late game. The game wasn’t completed before this edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune went to press.

The Bluejackets are scheduled to play Greenway, beginning at 11 a.m., today, weather permitting.

PHS 000 000 0 — 0 5 0

HHS 000 100 x — 1 5 1

Proctor: Mason Flick (L) and Austin Parrott; Hibbing: Andy Mickelson (W), Austen Kolden (5th) (S) and Jaiman Lamphere; 2B — [John Aase]; 3B — Riley Versich.