Baseball: Words run short as losses pile up

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A frustrating season is becoming harder to explain for Farmington baseball coach Mike Winters.

With the way the Tigers have struggled, Winters is quickly running out of things to say. Unfortunately, there was more of the same over the past week.

“We just simply need to do a better job of getting it done, and putting together complete games,” Winters said. “No excuses.”

With the regular season quickly winding down, Farmington (3-12, 2-9 Missota) is trying to find way to reverse the current trends. The Tigers lost three games last week, running their current losing streak to four games.

With three games in three days, Farmington lost 7-0 at Chaska last Tuesday before a 6-2 loss at home against Northfield a day later. On Thursday, the Tigers lost 20-15 at New Prague.

Farmington plays at Red Wing today.

“We need to do the little things to win games,” Winters said. “Right now, we’re not. We also need to be less selfish and focus on the team, and the plays at hand.”

Offense has played a big part in the season’s frustrations.

The Tigers entered last week’s game against New Prague averaging 3.86 runs per game.

Scoring wasn’t an issue against the Trojans, but the offensive breakout didn’t change the final results.

Farmington scored a season-high 15 runs. Only once before had the Tigers reached double figures.

Despite the improved offense, Thursday’s loss might be as disappointing as any loss this season.

Farmington scored five times in the top of the first inning.

Spencer Merle, Sebren Baer, John Stibal and Zach Wallace each had hits and Jake Baskerville and Ty Vincent drew walks during the outburst.

However, New Prague countered with 10 runs of its own in the bottom of the first.

Wallace had a hit and scored in the third, but the Trojans added six runs in the bottom of the third.

The Tigers added another five runs in the fourth with hits by Stibal, Dayne Eich, Wallace, Baskerville and Merle.

Wallace added doubles in the fifth and sixth to finish 4 of 5 with three runs and two RBIs.

But Farmington had six errors and Vincent was tagged with the pitching loss after starting and getting just one out.

“Not a pretty game. Lots of hits, errors and runs,” Winters said. “At least the kids battled throughout.”

The Tigers had five hits against Northfield, matching their opponent.

Farmington pitchers Nathan Graham and Zach Wallace held Northfield to five hits, including three bunt singles. Graham started on the mound and lasted 4 1/3 innings. He gave up five runs — three earned — on four hits and three walks. He struck out two and hit a batter.

Wallace pitched the final 2 2/3 innings, allowing a run on one hit and three walks.

Baskerville had two hits.

Jonathan Ellis took the pitching loss against Chaska with four innings pitched, but the Tigers only managed four hits as a team. Andy Morris surrendered an unearned run in two relief innings. He struck out three batters.

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