Eden Valley drops first game of Regional Tourney to Clear Lake

The last time the Eden Valley Hawks played in the region tournament in Cold Spring, they fought their way to advance to the state tournament. To follow that path, the Hawks will need to fight their way out of the losers bracket after falling to the Clear Lake Lakers five to two this past Saturday evening in Cold Spring.

For the Hawks, the game started on a positive note. As he has done so many times before, Joe Thiel led off the game with a hit, this time a triple down the right field line. He scored on Dan Berg's ground ball to short, and the visitors had an early one to nothing lead. That was the last time the Hawks had the lead, however, as the Lakers put up two runs on two hits and two walks in their half. Both teams were held in check until the fifth inning, when Clear Lake scored again. They again scored two runs, this time by stringing together four consecutive hits, and increased their lead to four to one.

The Hawks were the next to score, this time in the top of the seventh. With two outs, pitcher Dan Hansen doubled to the right-center gap. Joe Thiel then hit home pinch-runner Matthew Pennertz with a double down the left field line, giving the Hawks what ended up being their final run of the game, as they failed to get a runner on base after Thiel. The Lakers eventually would score again, this a lone run in the eighth, and walk away from the game with the victory.

Thiel led the hitting attack in this game with two hits, a double and a triple, as well as Mike Mathies adding two of his own. Dan Hansen went the distance on the mound for the Hawks, striking out eight while walking five.