Midgets down Eagles in 5 innings

HURLEY - The Hurley Midgets played rock-solid baseball on Friday night and carved out a 12-2 win over Solon Springs with the 10-run rule going into effect in the fifth inning of the Indianhead Conference game.

"It was a nice win, that's for sure," Hurley coach Aaron Bender said. "I like to see our team not giving up so many unearned runs, so we put together a nice ballgame today.

"We're improving from day-to-day. I have faith in our pitchers and we have to get the right defensive crew out there, the right combinations. It's extremely nice to catch infield flies. And we're starting to hit the ball."

Solon Springs coach Nathan Ahlberg said not having a full contingent of players may have hurt, but Hurley was just too strong on this day.

"We weren't quite at full strength and had some starters out," Ahlberg said. "Our players were rotated out of line and we normally make more plays.

"But Hurley is very patient at the plate and hits the ball hard. They get walks and made the plays to keep us off the board. It was a rough one for us."

Bender said the Midgets are becoming a more confident team.

"A few more wins will get you more confident," Bender said. "You pick each other up that way. We need to find the right combination of defense and get good hitting and pitching."

Cole Huotari was Hurley's lead-off hitter and he was the catalyst for a lot of Hurley's scoring. He batted four times and was on base four times. He was 2 for 2 at the plate and he scored two runs, while knocking in two more. He swatted two doubles. In his last at-bat, Huotari walked, stole second and third and scored on a wild pitch.

After the Eagles scored twice in the top of the first inning, Huotari started Hurley's half of the inning by being hit by a pitch. Dante Bender beat out an infield hit and when he was stealing second, the catcher's throw went into the outfield and Huotari came around to score.

Steven Chavers and Austin Kolpin walked and Chris Rye connected on a 2-RBI single. Kohl Manzanares laced a double down the left field line that caught the chalk and Josh Quello walked. Huotari batted again and hit a liner into the gap that plated Manzanares.

Hurley jumped out to a 6-2 lead and never looked back. The Midgets added a run in the second inning and two more in the third to go up 9-2.

It seemed only a matter of time before Hurley enforced its will on the Eagles with the effect of the 10-run rule.

Hurley's opportunity came in the fifth inning. Huotari drew a walk and stole two bases. With two outs, Kolpin walked and Rye was safe on an error that brought in Huotari. Manzanares and Quello walked and the game ended when Colt Tijan was hit by a pitch.

Tommy Androsky and Zach Rajala led Solon Spring's hitting attack by going 2 for 3.

Huotari was the only Midget to rap out two hits, but Manzanares was 1 for 1 and on base all four times he batted.

Androsky took the loss for the Eagles giving up eight runs on seven hits in three innings of work. He walked five and beaned one batter, while fanning three.

Bender and Mitchell Maki combined to give up two runs (one earned) and they scattered seven hits. They only walked one and whiffed seven Eagles.

The Midgets host Drummond on Monday at 4:30 p.m.

Solon Springs 2 0 0 0 0 - 2 7 3

Hurley 6 1 2 0 3 - 12 7 1