Big Inning Lifts ROCORI To Comeback Win

COLD SPRING  — The ROCORI Spartans kicked off a new week in the regular season by returning home to host another Central Lakes Conference contest at the Cold Spring Baseball Park on Tuesday, April 22.

And ROCORI did not disappoint against the Brainerd Warriors, scoring 10 of its 12 runs over the final three innings to complete a comeback and top Brainerd 12-8.

The Spartans got the scoring underway in the conference battle, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning. The Warriors bounced back and took the lead in the second inning, stretching their lead to as much as 7-2 in the fourth frame.

However, ROCORI plated two runs in each the fourth and fifth innings and exploded for six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to come back and claim victory at home.

Jake Stalboerger and Noah Olmscheid were red-hot for the Spartans to lead the team at the plate. Stalboerger went 3-for-4 with five RBI and one run scored, while Olmscheid also tallied three hits to go along with three runs, two RBI and two stolen bases. Behind those two, Caleb Maddox and Max Fredin each had one hit and two runs scored, while Jace Griffin, Cal Heying and Nolan VanLoy each drove in a run.

On the hill, Stalboerger got the start, pitching the first 3.1 innings while giving up six hits and five earned runs to go along with a strikeout. VanLoy got the win behind his 2.2 innings in relief, allowing just two hits, one run, two walks and striking out two. Tyler Prom rounded out the game on the mound for the Spartans, pitching the final inning without giving up a hit and striking out one.

With the victory, ROCORI improves to 2-2 overall on the season and is 2-2 in Central Lakes Conference play. The Spartans are back in action on April 24 when they travel to take on Fergus Falls at 5 p.m. at DeLagoon Park.