BASEBALL: Centaurs split in Perham behind Heger's 4 RBIs, 5 no-hit innings
Jul. 7—PERHAM — Aaron Heger had himself a game on Wednesday in Perham.
The Bemidji American Legion baseball team pitcher fired five no-hit innings on the mound and batted in four runs at the plate — all in a single contest. His all-around production keyed the Centaurs' 7-1 win over Perham, which allowed them to split despite a 9-7 loss later in the two teams' doubleheader.
Heger started his productive game with an RBI single to center in the first inning, which scored Ben Corradi. Dan Clusiau also had a run-scoring hit to help Bemidji (13-4-1) take an early 3-0 lead.
Heger next plated two on a single to right field in the second inning, giving himself a healthy 5-0 advantage with which to pitch. He made it count, striking out seven batters in his five scoreless frames.
Ryan Loewe added a run on a sacrifice fly in the fifth, and Heger collected his fourth RBI with a double in the sixth.
In the second game, the Centaurs were largely done in by Perham's seven-run third inning, though Bemidji made it close down the stretch. After the big outburst, Perham led the Centaurs 9-3 after three innings.
But Bemidji immediately battled back, scoring thrice in the top of the fourth. The Centaurs rallied again in the seventh, loading the bases with no outs. Loewe's double-play ground ball scored Clusiau to put Bemidji within two, but Peyton Neadeau struck out and the Centaurs fell just short.
Bemidji will next travel to the Gopher Classic in Edina. The Centaurs' first game of the weekend tournament is at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, July 8.
Bemidji 7, Perham 1
BEM 320 011 0 — 7-10-0
PER 000 000 1 — 1-5-1
WP: Heger (5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 7 K)
LP: Pulju (5 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 4 K)
Perham 9, Bemidji 7
BEM 021 300 1 — 7-10-1
PER 207 000 X — 9-11-0
WP: Kovash (5 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 6 K)
LP: Brodina (2.2 IP, 8 H, 9 R, 9 ER, 2 BB, 2 K)
