The Faribault Falcon baseball team probably wishes they would have done what the softball team did Tuesday night.  Both teams were scheduled to play doubleheaders against Northfield.  The softball game was to be held in Faribault and the baseball game in Northfield.  Actually the baseball game was originally scheduled to be in Faribault also but when it was changed to a doubleheader after a April weather out, Falcon Head Coach Charlie Lectenburg suggested they play in Dundas.  Tuesday when the rain started Dundas contacted the schools and said they would prefer they not play on the field.  The games were then moved to Northfield High School.  The softball team warmed up but never played.  The baseball game got two innings completed entirely in the rain.

The contest started in sprinkles and then a steady rain broke out.  The mound deteriorated into a slippery mess and that's when the umpires said no more.  Faribault was the home team in the first game which is the game that counts toward the conference standings.  Senior Dylan Vargo took the mound for Faribault and senior Jasper Blundred for Northfield.  Vargo walked the first batter junior Blake Christensen and senior shortstop Carter Hodapp took an 0-1 pitch and hit it over the head of Falcon center fielder Jake Lauwagie and the Raiders were up 1-0.

With two outs Northfield center fielder senior Derek Albers hit a fly ball to left field that looked routine, was caught and dropped.  With two outs Hodapp was off with the hit of the pitch and easily scored giving the Raiders a 2-0 lead in the first inning of the five inning game.  In the bottom of the inning after a strikeout Vargo was hit by a pitch again.  I say again because he was hit 3 times in last Saturday's loss to Winona on the road.  Senior right fielder Austin Rendler came into the game with nothing but multiple hits in ever game this seasn and was safe on a fielder's choice trading places at first with Vargo.  During the at bat with senior center fielder Jake Lauwagie, Rendler attempted to steal second and was called out to end the Faribault half of the inning.

In the top of the second Northfield had 3 hits but did not score thanks to a terrific relay to gun down designated hitter Lars Prestemon at home plate.  The senior started the inning with a 0-1 count single and was sacrificed to second on a perfect bunt by Blundred.  Number nine hitter junior third baseman Luke Johnson hit a single and Prestemon was sent home but thrown out at the plate.  Christensen hit a single with a 2-1 count.  During the Hodapp at bat Johnson advanced to third on a wild pitch. Then  Vargo collected his third strikeout to end the inning.

In the bottom of the second the Falcons went up and down in order with ground outs to third and short by Lauwagie, Dillon McEachran and Kipp Bonde.

The officials looked at the mound and agreed  it wasn't safe for anyone to pitch on the slippery surface.

They hope to resume the first baseball game on Friday at Bell Field in Faribault beginning at 5:00 p.m.  and then play the second game.

The softball doubleheader has been rescheduled for 4:00 p.m. Wednesday in Faribault.

Northfield Baseball Field Mound Tarp- photo by Gordy Kosfeld
Northfield Baseball Field Mound Tarp- photo by Gordy Kosfeld
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