Neil Flattery needed two bags of ice following his complete-game, walk-off double performance to lead the fourth-ranked (Class 2A) St. Edmond baseball team past Algona Friday night, 3-2 in nine innings.
Flattery went the distance on the mound, striking out seven and scattering five hits. He ended the extra-inning affair at Rogers Park with a towering shot to center that plated Landon Peed.
The Gaels (10-4 overall, 4-2 in the North Central Conference) and Bulldogs (6-5, 3-3) each had several opportunities to pick up the win, but neither team could capitalize. Flattery (3-0) and Sam Lipps put on strong pitchinging performances, as Lipps went eight innings before exiting to start the ninth.
"We just couldn't put (Algona) away," SEHS head coach Joe Shanks said. "We had plenty of chances, but we just couldn't get that next run across until Neil did in the ninth.
"While he didn't have his best stuff (on the mound), Neil battled and gave us those chances to win the game."
Flattery threw 127 pitches, 75 of which were strikes, and walked just two batters. He pitched out of jams in the third and fourth innings, and received a smooth double-play to get out of the eighth.
Fact Box
ST. EDMOND 3, ALGONA 2 (9 inn.)
Algona101 000 000 - 2 5 3
St. Edmond002 000 001 - 3 10 1
Sam Lipps (8 IP, 9 H, 2 ER, 2 K, 2 BB), Danny Grein (9, L, 1-3) and Weston Shaw; Neil Flattery (W, 3-0, 9 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 7 K, 2 BB) and Matthew Bocken. 3B - A: Tyler Frideres. 2B - SE: Nate Kolacia, N. Flattery. RBI - A: Clay Collison, Shaw; SE: N. Flattery, Nick Clark, Tommy Setterdahl. SB - A: Derek Person (2); SE: Clark. DP - SE: 1. TP - A: 1. LOB - A: 6; SE: 9.
After allowing a leadoff triple to Tyler Frideres to start the game, Flattery retired seven straight batters. He also sat down eight consecutive between the fourth and sixth frames.
"I felt like I got stronger as the game went on," Flattery said. "For whatever reason, I just didn't have a lot of velocity on my fastball to start the game."
Tommy Setterdahl had two hits and drove in a run, while Nate Kolacia also collected two hits. The Gaels did strand nine runners on base, including seven in scoring position.
"We have a lot of veterans, but we also have a lot of green guys that we are trying to work in," Shanks said. "We will take this win, head to the weekend and look to get things prepared for the upcoming stretch run of the season."
The Bulldogs got out of a bases loaded situation in the second inning by turning a triple play. Matthew Bocken lined out to second baseman Danny Grein, who stepped on second and fired to third to turn the once-in-a-lifetime play.
As for the game-winning hit, Flattery remarked, "I thought it was in the gap, but (Algona's Derek Person) covered a lot of ground and nearly made a play on it. I'm just glad we won the game and can now look to build off this."
St. Edmond returns to action today at the Dowling Classic in Des Moines. The Gaels will face second-ranked (2A) Dyersville Beckman at 11:30 a.m. and Don Bosco at 3 p.m.