Caleb Ricketts made his Rox debut Saturday - AJ Kaufman for KACMEDIA
While the weather has cooled in central Minnesota, the St. Cloud Rox remain hot.
After scoring 23 runs Thursday and Friday, they took on the Eau Claire Express Saturday evening for first time since 2018. Much of the same transpired, as the Rox bolted to a 7-0 lead after four innings en route to an 8-2 victory before 1,753 at Joe Faber Field.
Before the game, St. Cloud’s first year Manager David Bellamy said when the team plays this well, he “just gets out of the way and lets them have fun.”
St. Cloud is now 5-1 at home — after finishing 17-3 last season — and winners of five straight overall. Coupled with other results in the competitive Great Plains West, the Rox's 7-4 record nudges them into a first place virtual tie with the 8-5 Bismarck Larks, Mankato MoonDogs and Willmar Stingers.
The team’s success is only starting.
The Rox added two high level players Saturday: the University of Alabama’s Andrew Pinckney and the University of San Diego’s Caleb Ricketts.
Pinckney, a center fielder, had two RBI and scored from second base on a wild pitch in the fourth, while Ricketts, a left-handed hitting first baseman, doubled in his first at bat and scored twice.
Trent Schoeberl tossed five scoreless innings as the University of Minnesota right-hander picked up his first win of 2021.
Eau Claire falls to 4-9, as the teams meet again Sunday afternoon in the Granite City.
St. Cloud's Tyson Fisher knocks in a RBI single in the fourth inning - AJ Kaufman for KACMEDIA