Rainy River Baseball Battle Itasca for Conference Lead

The Rainy River Voyageurs baseball team split a home doubleheader Saturday against Minnesota North-Itasca at Falls High School.

In game one, the Voyageurs pulled off a dramatic 8-to-7 walk-off win. Trailing late, Rainy River exploded for six runs in the bottom of the seventh, capped by a Hunter Clements bases-loaded walk that forced home the winning run. Ben Bridges and Gerardo Alcantar Junior each drove in two runs, while Nick Colunga earned the win with three scoreless innings in relief.

After the game, Bridges said the dugout stayed composed and trusted the comeback would come.

Colunga says he locked in once he entered from the bullpen.

In game two, Itasca bounced back for a 5-to-1 win. Kilian Ridder drove in the lone Voyageur run, while Collin Haymond struck out seven over a complete-game effort.

The Rainy River Voyageurs baseball team wrapped up the four-game weekend series Sunday on the road against Itasca.

In game one, the Voyageurs were edged 4-to-1 despite outhitting the Vikings six to five. Rainy River scored first in the opening inning when Kilian Ridder drove in a run, but Itasca answered with three runs over the final innings to pull away. Ridder finished with an RBI, while Tanner Aros, Ben Bridges, Christian Cortes, Miguel Rincon-Flores, and Tomas Padilla each added hits. Damian Griffin pitched well in the loss, striking out nine over six innings.

In game two, Rainy River again outhit Itasca, this time eight to seven, but fell 11-to-2. Ben Bridges led the offense with a three-hit day and an RBI, while Ezra Kanakaole added two hits. The Vikings broke the game open with an eight-run fifth inning.

The Voyageurs now return home to Scheela Field Saturday for a doubleheader against MNC-Mesabi Range, with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.