PROCTOR – A neutral field was a playable field last week as North Woods and Virginia escaped the winter doldrums for a baseball game on the turf field at Proctor on Friday.
It turned out to be most favorable for Virginia, which delivered a 4-1 loss to the Grizzlies, their second of the season.
The Grizzlies got into early trouble in the second inning when pitcher Ben Kruse gave up two consecutive walks. An error by North Woods allowed the lead runner to score after stealing third to make the score 1-0.
Errors bit the Grizzlies again in the fourth inning when a pair of errors combined with a Virginia single pushed another run across the plate.
Miscues swung the way of the Grizzlies in the top of the sixth inning as they halved the deficit to 2-1. Louis Panichi reached base on a fly ball error, then Jake Panichi was hit by a pitch. North Woods loaded the bases when Tate Cly reached base on a mishandled ground ball. Talen Jarshaw fouled off four pitches before connecting on a fielder’s choice that brought Louis Panichi in to score.
That was all for the Grizzlies’ offense, and Virginia tallied two more runs in the bottom of the sixth to secure the win.
Kruse took the loss for North Woods, allowing two runs but only two hits while notching four strikeouts. Jake Panichi was the most productive Grizzly at the plate, collecting two hits.
North Woods was scheduled to play two games at Mesabi East on Thursday, a 2 p.m. contest against Cherry followed by Mesabi East, the team that dealt the Grizzlies their first loss of the season. The Grizzlies were to travel to Ely for a Friday game.