Tables turning

Chris Jagerson
Free Press Staff Writer

MANKATO July 04, 2008 01:24 am

— In two previous matchups, nothing seemed to go Eagle Lake Legion Post 617’s way.
After Thursday night, Eagle Lake hopes to reverse its fortunes against its rival for good.
With the help of pitchers Dan Larsen and Adam Rajtar, Post 617 escaped with a 4-3 victory Thursday over Mankato Legion Post 11 at Franklin Rogers Park.
Rajtar pitched a strong 61⁄3 innings, but was lifted for Larsen in the bottom of the seventh after allowing back-to-back singles — the second of which brought in Jon Howard to make it a one-run game.
Larsen first faced Adam Trautman, and before his crucial two-strike pitch, Larsen called for catcher Mitch Kleist to the mound for a meeting.
“I kept shaking him off,” Larsen said. “I was trying to get in the batter’s head. I think it helped out. It’s all mental.”
On the next pitch, Larsen got the strikeout.
Then with two outs, Larsen, who pitching for just the second time this season, threw a pair of wild pitches to move tying-runner Derrick Cattrysse to third base. Again Larsen called Kleist to the mound, and a few pitches later Larsen again got the much-needed strikeout to pick up the save.
“There was a little pressure, but I think I handled it,” Larsen said. “I’ve been put in those positions before as a sophomore. I’ve been in that situation, and I think the experience really helped.”
An elbow condition has limited Larsen’s time on the mound the past two seasons.
“I’m learning the mound all over again,” he said.
At the plate, it was also Larsen’s strikeout that scored the game-winning run. Larsen swung and missed for strike three in the fifth inning, but a wild pitch allowed him to reach first and Joey Olson to score from third base.
Rajtar earned the win by allowing nine hits with four strikeouts. Larsen got the save.
Eagle Lake scored three runs in the second inning but recorded just one hit over the final five innings.
Post 11’s Luke Weber pitched 61⁄3 innings, giving up five hits and two walks with two strikeouts in a losing effort.
Derrick Cattrysse went 3 for 4 with a run and an RBI for Mankato. Post 11 left three runners in scoring position in the last two innings.
“That’s kind of been our story for the last few games,” Post 11 manager Jamie Mulvihill said. “One time we will get a big hit, but right now things aren’t falling for us.”
Eagle Lake had lost the two previous meetings this season between the teams by a combined total of 34-2.
“In the past it was more of a hated rivalry, but now it’s more friendly,” Mulvihill said. “We weren’t going to be able to beat them again like we did before. It’s not an easy task to beat them.”
Eagle Lake (6-4) plays at 8 p.m. Monday against New Ulm Blue at Franklin Rogers Park, and Mankato Post 11 (13-4) plays a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. Sunday against Chisago Lakes at Franklin Rogers Park.

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