By Spencer Flaten
Staff Writer
Prep Baseball Report Minnesota

Spotlight Game of the Day- Highland Park vs. St. Croix Prep

SAINT PAUL, MN- May 19, 2015

St. Paul Highland Park scored early and often in a resounding 12-2 non-conference win over St. Croix Prep on Tuesday afternoon. The result of the game was never really in doubt, as the Scots looked to be in control from the get-go. Their offense and pitching were a cut above their opponents’ on the afternoon.

Highland took it to the Lions all game long. They started things off in the 2^nd inning by jumping out to a two-run lead after Niccolo Ciccarelli drew a bases-loaded walk and St. Croix Prep pitcher Nick King threw a wild pitch with a man on 3^rd.

The Lions took a run back in the top of the 3^rd via an RBI from King. However, that one-run deficit would not last long. In the bottom of the frame, Highland sent ten batters to the plate and erupted for five runs to put the game away early. Ed McKinnley, Chase Thomley, and Ciccarelli all tallied RBI hits in the inning. D’Anthony Beckman also drew an RBI walk.

Peter Hill drew a bases-loaded walk in the 5^th to make the score 7-2, but it wasn’t nearly enough to mount a comeback. The Scots scored three runs in the bottom of the frame, highlighted by a 2 RBI double by Joe Taubert.

Highland finally put the mercy rule into effect in the bottom of the 6^th. Ciccarelli ended the game by drilling an RBI single to left field.

The Scots used a committee of pitchers to hold the Lions to four hits in the contest. McKinnley started the game by striking out the side, but only pitched one inning. Luke Moses-Thomsen came in and pitched three innings, and Thomley pitched the final two.

King pitched three innings for the Lions and allowed six earned runs. Joe Vondrachek went two innings on the mound and surrendered three runs.

Highland finished the game with 12 hits and 7 walks, while they only struck out once. On the flip side, St. Croix Prep struck out 12 times and drew only 3 walks.

Ciccarelli and McKinnley both went 2-for-3 for the Scots. They combined for almost half of Highland’s offense, as Ciccarelli tallied three RBIs while McKinnley finished with two. Beckman went 1-for-2 with an RBI and a stolen base. King went 1-for-2 with an RBI for St. Croix Prep.

The Scots moved to 14-6 this season with the victory.