×

Battle of unbeatens

Depth helps SNB-Stanton top Dean Kangas-State Farm

Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette Superior National Bank/Stanton's Justin Kirby connects with a pitch from Dean Kangas-State Farm's Morgan Impala during the third inning of a game Tuesday night at the Hancock Driving Park.

HANCOCK — Superior National Bank-Stanton manager Daron Durocher has one of the best problems a manager in the Twilight League can have — he has depth. That depth, which was on display Tuesday night at the Hancock Driving Park is what carried SNB-Stanton to an 11-4 victory over Dean Kangas-State Farm.

New additions this season, pitcher Rob Brooks and shortstop Justin Kirby, came up big for SNB-Stanton in the win. Brooks started the game and pitched deep into the sixth inning, while Kirby went 2 for 4 at the plate and scored on a passed ball in the top of the seventh.

“Kirby is young, about in his prime, and that is a huge pickup,” said Durocher. “Rob is just a team player. He shows up a little bit before [games] and just does what he’s asked.”

Both Brooks and Kirby were long-time members of the Pat’s Foods/Mosquito Inn teams over the years, and have — along with Al Nettell — have all found a new home with SNB-Stanton and they give Durocher options in a number of situations.

“As long as people do their part and we all can get along and make it work, we’ll be okay,” said Durocher. “I just have options, lots of them.”

Tuesday night, SNB-Stanton and Dean Kangas came into the game as unbeaten teams. Despite jumping out to a 6-0 lead, SNB-Stanton (5-0) needed a five-run seventh to guarantee their victory.

“[Brooks] definitely kept us off-balance for those first four innings,” said Dean Kangas manager Brian Juopperi. “We finally stayed a bit more patient and got to him a little bit. He definitely pitched a good game.”

After struggling to get their bats on much of anything Brooks threw their way for the first five innings, and only having one run to show for their efforts, Dean Kangas’ bats exploded in the sixth for four hits and three runs to cut the score to 6-4 and force Durocher to pull Brooks in favor of last season’s Most Valuable Player, Tyler LaDuron.

“We made it 6-4 and thought we might have a chance,” said Juopperi. “They put up a strong inning in that last one and it was just too much for us to come back from.”

It all started with a blooped single by Juopperi. After stealing second, Juopperi scored on a double by Kyle Storm. Storm then scored on a single by T.J. Kilpela two batters later. Morgan Impala was later brought home by a single from Jason Koski to give Dean Kangas (3-1) their third run of the inning and end Brooks’ night.

That was as close as they would get, however, as LaDuron legged out a single in the top of the seventh and SNB-Stanton built off of that hit two batters later when LaDuron scored on a passed ball.

After LaDuron scored, SNB-Stanton’s fifth hitter, Eric Nettell, sacrificed to bring home Kirby and extend the lead to four, 8-4. Nettell led the offense for SNB-Stanton on the night, as he knocked in five runs thanks to a combination of smart small-ball sacrifices and a timely two-run single in the fifth as well.

“He put it in play,” said Durocher. “He put it in the right spots to score the runner from third. It’s not always a sac fly, it can be a ground ball in the right spot to score the runner from third.”

Durocher also had a strong night at the plate, helping his own cause, going 3 for 3 with two singles and a double.

The two teams will meet again on Thursday at Stanton Field.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today