Trojans top Northfield, lose twice at Owatonna tourney

New Prague’s scheduled home opener with Prior Lake on April 20 was rained out. The game has been rescheduled for 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 6.

The team defeated Northfield 4-3 Tuesday, then lost to Lakeville North and Owatonna at the Owatonna Invitational on Saturday.

The Trojans have three games in the coming week, all at home. They play Hutchinson Friday, April 28, Waseca Monday, May 1 and Holy Angels on Wednesday May 3. The Waseca game is at 5 p.m. The others start at 4:15 p.m.

Trojans 4, Raiders 3

New Prague didn’t get many hits, but they made good use of them and manufactured a couple of runs as they edged Northfield 4-3 in eight innings Tuesday, April 18.

Northfield scored a run in the second with a walk, a sacrifice and a base hit. The Trojans tied it on the third, taking a page from the Northfield playbook as Luke Hanzel walked, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by John Kneip, advanced to third on a fly to right and scored on a wild pitch.

The Raiders regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth, with a walk, and a pair of base this. The Trojans tied it again in the top of the fifth. With one out, Hanzel singled, moved to second on a ground ball out, and scored on a base hit by Kubes.

But the Raiders regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth with a one-out solo homer.

New Prague made it 3-3 in the sixth. Eric Olson drew a leadoff walk, but was retired when Tony Kubes hit into a fielder’s choice. Kubes moved to second on a ground ball out, and Kyle Bergstrom doubled to drive in the run.

Northfield threatened in the seventh, but Bergstrom got out of the jam. With runners on first and third with one out, the Trojans walked a man to load the bases. The next hitter hit a ground ball back to Bergstrom, who started a 1-2-3 double play

In the top of the eighth Tony Kubes sled off with a double and was sacrificed to third by Dom DeLuca. He scored on a wild pitch, giving the Trojans the lead.

Brad Weiers came on to pitch in the eight. He gave up a leadoff single. With one out, an infield error put runners on first and second. The next hitter lined to second. After a wild pitch moved the runners to second and third, Weiers struck out the next hitter to end the game.

Bergstrom threw seven innings, allowing three runs, all earned, on six hits. With the Trojans scoring gin the top of the eight, he earned the win. He struck out six and got the win. Weiers got the save, allowing one hit and striking out one in one inning of work.

The Trojans scattered dive hits, but three of them wee doubles, by Tony Kubes, Bergstrom and Kneip. They made good use of their opportunities, with two runs scored on wild pitches.

April 18, at Northfield

New Prague 001 011 01— 4 5 2

Northfield 010 110 00— 3 7 0

K. Bergstrom (W, 1-1), B. Weiers (S, 1) and D. DLuca; Purcell, Rasmussen (L) and Loven-Holt; NP Hits—To. Kubes 2b, K. Bergstrom (2b), Hanzel, Kneip (2b) and Tr. Kubes.

Panthers 8, Trojans 1

Lakeville North scored five runs in the sixth inning to break open a tight game in an 8-1 win over New Prague.

The Panthers scored on a solo homer in the second inning and added two in the fifth. The Trojans’ only run came in the fourth, when Kyle Bergstrom singled and scored on a base hit by John Kneip.

The Trojans had six hits in the game, with Adam Gill getting two of them. The senior third baseman reached base three times, going 2-for-2 and walking.

Tony Kubes started and went five innings, allowing five hits and three runs while striking out two. Andrew Mach pitched one inning, allowing five runs, four earned and Scott Hoffman pitched one perfect inning.

April 22, at Owatonna

Lakeville North 010 025 0 — 8 7 1

New Prague 000 100 0 — 1 6 2

Mitchell (W) and Kvasnicka; To. Kubes (L, 1-1), Mach, Hoffman and D. DeLuca; NP Hits—Olson, K. Bergstrom, Gill 2, Kneip, Skluzacek

Owatonna Tourney 1

Owatonna led from the start in an 8-4 win over New Prague

Owatonna took a lead in the top of the first inning, using three walks and two hits to score three runs. The Trojans got one run back in the second, when Tom Giesen walked and scored on a base hit by Aaron Shetka.

Owatonna scored three more in the third. The Trojans responded with three of their own in the bottom of the third. Kubes led off with a double and scored on a hit by Dom DeLuca. Adam Gill walked and Ross Skluzacek drove in two runs with a base hit.

The Trojans would not get another run the rest of the way, with Owatonna pitchers getting 11 strikeouts, including a stretch of four straight.

The Trojans had eight hits. Kubes, DeLuca and Shetka had two each.

Jake Malz started for the Trojans and took the loss. He allowed six hits and six runs, four earned, while striking out two.

Joey DeLuca pitched three innings of relief, allowing three hits and two runs, while striking out four.

April 22, at Owatonna

Owatonna 303 000 2 — 8 9 1

New Prague 013 000 0 — 4 8 4

Melenek (W), Wilson and Vore; Malz, J. DeLuca and Weiers; NP Hits—to. Kubes 2 (2b), D. DuLuca 2 (2b), Skluzacek, A. Weiers, Shetka 2.