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Another perfect day for a ballgame saw the Shullsburg/Benton Fever come to visit the Ridgeway Cardinals. And it was another defensive game for the Cardinals.
The first team on the board was the Fever who got the first run in the fourth. The first three innings were all defense for both teams as most of the batters were gotten out one way or another.
At the end of eight innings the score was tied 1-1. At the end of the official game (nine innings) the score was still tied.
But the 10th was a different story as Chris Thousand took the mound and with the Cardinals' defense on the ball, it kept the Fever from sending more than three hitters to the plate.
In the bottom of the tenth Mitch Heinemeyer lead off with a double, Chris Thousand was given a free pass to first and Kvin Oimoen got a long shot to center that sailed over the fence for a three run, game winning homerun.
Zac Arenson did the work on the mound through nine innings, facing 39 batters, fanning eight, striking out three, and giving up seven hits for one run. Thousand finished the game seeing only three batters.
Leading hitters for the Cardinals were Mitch Heinemeyer 2x3, Chris Thousand 3x3, and Kevin Oimoen 2x5.
The Cardinals next game after the holidays will once again be at home, seeing the Wiota Indians come to town for a 1 pm showdown Saturday.