Springers win Jordan Tournament

For July 10 Cold Spring Record

COLD SPRING, Minn. – The Cold Spring Springers went 4-1 this past week, finishing second at the Spamtown MN Baseball Challenge in Austin on Sunday, July 1. The Springers defeated Prescott, Wis. 6-3 in the semifinals and lost 7-6 to Minnetonka in the championship game. The Springers then traveled to the Coors Light Classic in Jordan and defeated Jordan 6-2 on Friday, July 6, Shakopee 13-2 in seven innings on Saturday, July 7, and Dundas 5-1 on Sunday, July 8.

Cold Spring raised its season record to 27-6 overall and 12-1 in the Lakewood League.

Cold Spring scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning and ended up winning 6-3 over Prescott, Wis. Zach Reif (4-1) pitched a complete game on the mound scattering 10 hits and striking out four. Ben Griffin, Andy Bulson, Gary Kiess and Ryan Holthaus all had two hits, while Griffin and Holthaus each contributed two RBI. Holthaus had a two-run home run in the sixth inning.

In the championship game, Minnetonka, the defending Class A state champions with a 32-1 record so far in 2007, hit a two-run home run with two outs in the top of the ninth inning to win 7-6. Minnetonka took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but Cold Spring rallied to take a 4-2 lead after single runs in the each of the first four innings. Rod Schafer was 4-for-4 with a home run, while Steve Huls, Ben Griffin, Zach Femrite and Ryan Lieser all had two hits each. Andy Bulson pitched seven-plus innings and Femrite (10-1) worked the final two innings in relief.

Andy Bulson (5-3) got the pitching win and Mike Burtzel and Steve Huls each had two hits to lead the Springers to a 6-2 win over Jordan. The Springers jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Bulson gave up five hits and struck out five. Zach Reif pitched the final two innings.

Eric Decker went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI, Darren Heying hit a home run and Steve Huls went 2-for-4 with a double to lead the Springers over Shakopee 13-2. Rick Burtzel (6-1) got the complete-game win. He went all seven innings, striking out five and allowing four hits.

Zach Femrite (11-1) pitched all seven innings, striking out 10, walking three and allowing three hits in a 5-1, rain-shortened win over Dundas. Mike Burtzel went 2-for-2 with two walks and two runs scored, while Rick Burtzel had a key double scoring two runs in the sixth inning. Darren Heying was 2-for-3 with an RBI.

The Springers are scheduled to host the annual Nick Bell Classic on July 13-15, in Cold Spring. The Springers will play Shakopee at 6:30 p.m. Friday, July 13; the Austin Blue Sox at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 14, and the Minneapolis Cobras at 4 p.m., Sunday, July 15. There will be nine games in Cold Spring over the weekend, with action starting at 6:30 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m. Saturday and 12 p.m. Sunday.