On Friday, July 17, under the lights in Nisswa, in a Lake and Pine League game, the Nisswa Lightning numbed the Nimrod Gnats 12-2 with an 11-hit attack which saw them score nine times in the second inning.
Nimrod had beaten Nisswa a couple of weeks ago 2-1 and took a 1-0 lead in this one in the top of the first on a solo home run.
Then in the big second inning for Nisswa the first nine men to the plate reached base safely and all scored.
Dave Berndgen, Ethan Nichols and Brett Jenkins all singled, Drew Boland followed with a 3-run homer to right center, the next three batters all walked, Morgan Shepherd cracked a two-run single and Mark Germain hit a 3-run homer to left.
Nisswa scored single runs in the first on a wild pitch, another in the third with the bases loaded when Berndgen was hit by a pitch and another in the fourth on Brandon Hilt's infield single.
Nimrod's other run came in the seventh on an error and two singles.
Aaron Jenkins went the first five innings on the mound for Nisswa and allowed just three hits and one run, while Mark Parrish went the final two, allowing one run and two hits.
Nisswa had 12 runs, 11 hits, one error and stranded 13 runners, while Nimrod had two runs, five hits, one error and left three on.
Boland was 2-for-3 with three RBI, Morgan Shepherd was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and Germain had just one hit, but it was good for three RBI.
Nisswa received seven walks and four batters were hit by a pitch.
With the win Nisswa clinched the South Division Championship and improved their season record to 11-5-1.
Jenkins improved his pitching record to 5-2.
Cloutier no-hits Staples in season finale
At Pine Grove Park in Staples on Sunday, July 19, Brett Cloutier no-hit Staples and the Lightning banged out 23 hits in the 18-0 win.
Cloutier struck out six and missed a perfect game by walking two and hitting one.
Tony Parrish led the hit-parade as he went 5-for-5 with two doubles, had four RBI and scored five runs.
Paul Jenkins was 3-for-3 with two RBI, Aaron Jenkins was 2-for-3 with two doubles and three RBI, Morgan Shepherd was 3-3 with two RBI and Bronson Shepherd was 3-6 with a double.
Also having big days were Dave Berndgen, who was 2-for-3 and Scott Kimman with a 2-for-5 day and two RBI.
The Lightning finish their regular season at 12-5-1 and at 11-2 in the Lake and Pine League.
The win earned them an automatic bid in the Region 14C playoffs and earned them the regular season crown. They will be the top seed in the Lake and Pine playoffs.
Nisswa played errorless ball in the game, while the Lumberbats had four bobbles.
