Faribault Lakers Edge New Market on Rick Rost Day

The Faribault Lakers had two hits in their 2-1 win over the New Market Muskies today at Bell Field in Faribault.  Before the game the Faribault Baseball Association inducted a former Lakers player and coach, Faribault High School head baseball coach for 24 years Rick Rost.

A large replica ball sign was presented to Rost by Chris Reuvers and Adam Kline. The ball will eventually be placed on the outside of the press box joining Leo Brand, Charlie Madson, Lowell Nomeland and Mike Morrissey.  There is also a replica White Sox jersey honoring FHS graduate Jake Petricka who was drafted by the White Sox and has played for Toronto, Milwaukee and Texas in the majors.

Rost is assisting with coaching New Market and his two sons Nick and Nate play for the top ranked team in Class C this season. Rost also threw out the ceremonial first pitch with a grandson joining him on the mound.  Rost was inducted into the Faribault Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.  He retired as baseball coach for FHS following the 2007 season.

Rick told KDHL following the game it was a "very humbling honor" and something he "never dreamed of."  He added, "I guess I spent a lot of hours on this field."  Rost believes he played for the Lakers about 17 years and can't recall the number of years he "filled in coaching" the team.  For awhile he was a player and coach.  He also played in VFW and Legion ball as well as for the Faribault Falcons in high school.  Rost played football and baseball at St. Olaf College in Northfield.

It was just the third loss of the year for New Market.  It didn't look good early for the hometown team.  In the first inning after throwing five pitches Jack Helgeson said he could not pitch anymore and went to second base where Porter Sartor had started and Sartor came in to pitch.

Scott Lyden stroked a single to start the game, following a ground out Helgeson threw a ball to #3 batter Kyle Bergstrom and then following a time out and a practice toss said he couldn't go. Sartor gave up a RBI single for the only run of the game which was charged to Helgeson and then proceeded to shut out the top team in the D-R-S League.

Sartor struck out 9 Muskies batters, 7 of them looking.  He threw 132 pitches, 85 strikes with 6 hits allowed, 3 walks, 2 hit batters.

Nate Rost started the game on the hill for New Market and completed 6 innings.  Rost had a no hitter going until the 4th inning when Mitch Johnson got a single up the middle.  The only other hit for Faribault was of the infield variety off the bat of Blake Langerud.  Neither of the runs scored by the Lakers were earned runs.  Rost threw 64 pitches with 44 strikes, 3 strikeouts, no walks.  Brett Herber threw the last two innings with equal efficiency.  Six batters faced, 3 strikeouts, everyone retired, 20 total pitches, 15 strikes.

Johnson hit his single with one out in the bottom of the 4th, advanced to second on a ground out.  With two outs Mike Carpentier hammered a ball to third base which was bobbled and then thrown wide of third scoring Johnson to tie the game.

Blake Langerud manufactured the Lakers run in the 6th inning after reaching base with one out by legging out a hit to the shortstop hole.  Langerud stole second base.  Johnson connected for a grounder to short and was retired at first base. Langerud motored to third on the throw to first and scored when the first baseman tried to throw him out at third and the throw got away.  That's all Faribault would need.

Faribault third baseman Adam Kline made outstanding defensive plays in the 8th and 9th innings that helped Sartor retire the final 7 batters he faced.  Sartor appeared to get stronger as the game went by.  He allowed no hits over the final three innings and just one New Market batter was on base after being hit by a pitch.

Faribault 13-11 has won four straight games.  They really need to win out to have a chance to finish among the top four teams in the league standings and get a first round bye in the playoffs.  The Lakers host Austin Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and finish their regular season Wednesday at Shakopee.

The Muskies are at Elko Friday 7:30 p.m. and close out their regular season Sunday at St. Patrick 1:00 p.m.