A Chaska Comeback

Wednesday night was Strikeout ALS Night at Derrick Keller Field and Henry Bushey's two RBI double in the top of the seventh inning led the Chaska Hawks to a 5-2 come from behind win over the St. Louis Park Orioles.  

The Orioles struck first in the bottom of the first when Stanley Regguinti reached base on an error by Hawks shortstop Henry Bushey and Ben Farley singled.  Zach Helfmann singled to score Regguinti to give St. Louis Park the early lead.  

Regguinti would account for St. Louis Park's second run in the bottom of the third as he crossed the plate on Kristofer Hokenson's RBI single and the lead increased to two.  

Things were looking good for Oriole starting pitcher Stefano Giovannelli, whose mother Lynn, battling ALS, was one of three women who threw out the first pitch prior to the start of the game.  He had a perfect game through four innings with no walks and four strikeouts.  But in the top of the fifth, the roof started to cave in on Giovannelli when Drew Benson singled and Hawks pitcher Maddox Foss reached base on Giovannelli's throwing error.  Benson would score on Bushey's sacrifice fly to cut the lead to one.  

Could St. Louis Park shut down the Chaska offense in the top of the seventh?  The answer would eventually be no since the first five batters hit safely.  Dayne McNaughton and Benson reached base on singles and McNaughton was forced out at third base on an excellent heads up play by Giovannelli.  But Bushey hit a two run double and came home on Thomas Hanson's RBI single.  The Orioles only managed to get one base runner on a one out single from Henry Odens but Hanson, pitching in relief of Foss, struck out Jacob Favour and pinch hitter Zach Johnson to end the game.  

Giovannelli would strike out seven batters in a losing effort.  

The Hawks improved their record to 7-2 and host the Bloomington Jefferson Jaguars on Friday, May 6 at 7 PM at Chaska Athletic Park.  The Orioles fell to 5-3 and travel to Waconia on the 6th to take on the Wildcats at 7 PM at the Waconia Lions Baseball Field.