Faribault Flames Catch Fire in Sixth Inning to Win Honor Vets Game

The Flames connected for eight hits in the sixth inning to post a come-from-behind 7-5 win over the Northfield Millers on Saturday night.

There was a good crowd on hand for Honor Our Veterans night at Bell Field. Among them were 20 veterans from all branches of the military: veterans from the Korean and Vietnam wars, Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom.

Flames manager Rick Vogel is a retired military man and his father also made the military a career, so Vogel understands the sacrifices military families make to serve their nation. The 56-year-old started the game on the hill and gave up two runs on three hits in the first inning. Kyle Green entered in the second inning and allowed just one hit heading into the sixth inning when Northfield manufactured their third run to take a 3-0 leading into the bottom of the sixth. These teams have players 35 and older and play seven-inning games.

That's when the Flames caught fire and assaulted the baseball for eight hits and seven runs. It all came with two outs, also. After the second out was recorded, No. 3 hitter Green was at first base on a fielder's choice. Green stole second (his second stolen base of the game), and Ross Spicer then smacked a single to score Green. Tim Wagner singled, Eric Sammon clubbed an RBI double, Bill Storch crushed the ball to the ivy on the fence in left field to plate two runs, Pat Nelson singled to score Storch, Brandon Schroeder legged out an infield hit, Brandon Gliem struck out but gained first after the catcher mishandled the ball and then threw wide of the bag, and Dusty Dienst collected his second hit with a two-RBI single.

Northfield had the tying run at the plate in the seventh but couldn't complete their comeback bid.

Aaron Rushing started the game and went the first three innings, allowing three hits. He retired the last five batters he faced. Curt Callister took the loss due to Faribault's big inning. The soft tosser stymied the Flames in the fourth and fifth innings while not allowing a hit. Brandon Gliem opened the sixth inning with a single. Gliem was erased from the base paths when Dienst hit a grounder and hustled to first to beat the throw. Green hit a sky ball that the first baseman couldn't catch but Dienst was left in no man's land because the pop up was near the first base bag and he couldn't advance and was out on the play. Then the fireworks began for the Flames.

Green struck out four, walked two and hit a batter in picking up the win. Faribault is now 6-6 on the season and hosts St. Patrick on Wednesday at 7PM.

Vogel told Power 96 after the game that his team is now 4-2 in Honor Our Veterans games. Faribault finished the game with 11 hits and an error while leaving five men on base. Only two were in scoring position. Northfield tallied nine hits and had two errors while leaving six men on base and four in scoring position.

Our State Farm Faribault Agents players of the game were Green, Dienst and Sammon. In addition to pitching well, Green had two stolen bases and a hit. Dienst laid down a perfect bunt in the first inning and had the two-RBI single in the sixth and Sammon collected an infield single and RBI double.

The Flames wanted us to thank all the military guys who attended and said that's why they are more motivated to play the game. One of the players told me, "They busted their butts defending this country so I could enjoy playing this game. The least I can do is bust my butt while they're watching."