FIELD TWP- The Grizzlies saw their winning streak come to an end on Friday with a nailbiting 3-2 loss to South Ridge, but got back on the winning track on Monday with a 6-4 home win over Mt. Iron-Buhl.
The Grizzlies came into the MIB contest with added confidence from their 13-0 April 30 shutout of the Rangers, a no-hitter for hurler Louie Panichi. This time it was Talen Jarshaw who took the mound for the Grizzlies.
MIB immediately set out to write a new script for this one, capitalizing on a pair of first-inning errors by the Grizzlies to go up 2-0.
But leading off the bottom of the inning, John Warren put the Rangers on notice that North Woods would not be intimidated, crushing a ball over the outfield wall for a home run to pull North Woods to within one.
The Grizzlies struck again in the fifth, sending ten batters to the plate, producing a five-run avalanche that had Alex Burckhardt, Panichi, Jarshaw, Cedar Holman, and Levi Chaulklin collect hits and cross the plate.
While Jarshaw surrendered two runs in the seventh, including a home run, North Woods closed out the game with Jarshaw claiming the 6-4 win.
It was a fitting outcome on a day the Grizzles honored their seniors – Burckhardt, Panichi, Jarshaw, Vincent Kajala and Jase Swan. The seniors were escorted to the field by family and friends who then all threw ceremonial first-pitches, some more successful than others, to the delight of the crowd.
The Grizzlies were scheduled to be back on the diamond on Thursday at Cook County, followed by a home tilt on Tuesday against Deer River.