Baseball Avenges Previous Section Loss, Keeps Season Alive With Key Win

After+one+loss%2C+the+baseball+team+hopes+to+come+out+of+the+double+elimination+section+tournament+still+alive.+

Ashley Ortizcazarin

After one loss, the baseball team hopes to come out of the double elimination section tournament still alive.

On June 1, Delano and Benilde-St. Margaret’s met for a section playoff game.  In a thriller, the Red Knights were shocked by Delano in ten innings of intense baseball. As the game ended, the Red Knights faced a daunting predicament. In order to repeat as section champs, Benilde had to win an incredible 5 games in 6 days to come out of the double elimination (each team must lose twice) Section 6AAA bracket.

As we flash forward 4 days that once daunting task does not appear so difficult. The Red Knights have now rattled off not one… not two…. but THREE consecutive victories, after an 8-2 vengeance filled triumph against Delano at Memorial Park. “After we had lost to them twice this year in very close games, we knew we had to jump on them immediately,” senior Derek Drees said.

The spectacular play of Drees, who tallied towering homerun to left as well as three clutch doubles at the plate, carried the load offensively. The star senior went 4-4 smacking the ball all across the ballpark, as well as showing off his cannon of an arm in the field, making constant plays at shortstop. “I just told myself to focus. Whether it was at the plate or in the field that I had to take it play at bat at a time. I understood that we wouldn’t win the Section Championship on one individual play, so I just tried to focus on each individual opportunity I got,” Drees said.

Even though Drees assembled a masterful all-around game, the real story today was Matt Brooks.

The Red Knights have now rattled off not one… not two…. but THREE consecutive victories.

Brooks fueled the Red Knights by taking command on the mound from the very first pitch. He went all seven innings, and added a huge double at the plate. For Brooks, he understood the importance of the game, but welcomed the atmosphere and pressure. “I felt great today. I didn’t really have nerves because I knew that if I was relaxed and threw strikes my defense would make plays behind me,” Brooks said.

Since Brooks was so accurate, he was able to get ahead in the count, which made it easier to strike batters out. Not many Delano hitters could touch his fastball that flirted with 87-miles per hour on the radar gun. This velocity, mixed with an array of off speed pitches kept hitters off balance throughout Brooks’ stellar outing.

As for today, the Red Knights have their work cut out for them. They face an unblemished Waconia Wildcats club that has not lost in the Section Tournament. Since the Wildcats have not lost in the Section Tournament BSM must defeat them not once but twice to advance to the State Tournament. Even though the odds may be stacked against the Red Knights, all members of the team continue to keep the faith. “We believe in ourselves, and that has gotten us a long way. We just have to keep believing and send a quick prayer that the baseball God’s are on our side these next two days,” Drees smiled and said.