RAYMOND -- A tie game through five innings ended in a rout as Cold Spring broke away from the Raymond Rockets to win 12-4 on Wednesday evening.
The Springers, one of the top Class B teams in the state each year, ran their record to 28-5.
The Rockets are 22-6 as the playoffs near.
Both starting pitchers gave up three runs in the first, but quickly settled down.
Tied 4-4, Rockets' starter Nate Hebrink cruised into the sixth inning when Rick Burtzel cracked a two-run homer in a three-run inning to finish Hebrink's day.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Springers would build on a 7-4 lead with four more runs in the eighth -- the big hit a three-run homer by Darren Heying, who also doubled and singled -- off Raymond reliever Ronnie Hoekstra.
Kyle Knott's three-run homer in the bottom of the first off Chad Aaseth tied the score 3-3.
Tyler Steen doubled in a run in the bottom of the second for Raymond to again tie the score, 4-4.
But that would be the Rockets' last tally. Aaseth lef the game in the fifth with a sore arm. Former Ridgewater College pitcher Chad Willenbring relieved and didn't allow a hit over the final 4Zc innings.
Brad Olson hit a solo homer for the visitors in the second inning, a line-drive to straightaway center field. Tyler Horning, the Springers' shortstop, had three of his team's 13 hits.
Cold Spring 12, Raymond 4
Cold Spring 310 003 041 -- 12 13 1
Raymond 310 000 000 -- 4 5 4
ADVERTISEMENT
HITTING - Cold Spring: Brad Olson 2-for-3, solo HR; Tyler Horning 3-for-4, 2 rbi; Darren Heying 3-for-6, 2b, 3-run-HR; Rick Burtzel 2-for-4, 2-run-HR ... Raymond: Kyle Knott 2-for-4, 3-run HR; Zach Nelson 1-for-4, Tyler Steen 1-for-4, 2b, rbi; Ben Ruter 1-for-4
PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) -- Cold Spring: Chad Aaseth 423-5-4-4-4-1, Chad Willenbring (W) 413-0-0-0-0-1... Raymond: Nate Hebrink (L) 523-8-7-6-3-3, Ronnie Hoekstra 213-4-5-2-5-1, Zach Nelson 1-1-0-0-0-1
