Apple Valley, MN — Wed, Apr 14, 2021: The result and the score of tonight's game is secondary to the fact that we were back playing high school baseball again tonight!! Yes!! Smiles all around underneath our masks as we watched the Burnsville nine take on the Eastview Lightning over in Apple Valley on a chilly, blustery, rainy afternoon. It was so great to be back on the field that the teams played some extra baseball as this one needed extra innings to be decided. Unfortunately, our Blaze fell 4-3 in 8 innings to a solid Eastview club. Senior captain Ethan Voss started on the bump for Burnsville, going the first 3 innings, and despite some errors behind him, kept the Blaze in the lead 3-2 after 3. He gave up unearned runs in both the first and third innings, but pitched very well, striking out 5 and only walking 1, while allowing 3 hits. The offense saw all of its production in the 2nd inning for the Blaze, plating all 3 of its runs. Junior 3rd baseman Asher Giese started the inning with a single, followed by a towering blast over the centerfielder's head for a double by senior captain and shortstop Kade Bowar. This set up a big inning for the visitors, as the bottom of the order delivered after that. Senior left-fielder Luke Trussell followed with an RBI infield single to plate Giese, and after senior captain Zach LaMotte's sacrifice bunt, senior Jordon Sieben ripped a liner up the middle to score Bowar. Junior centerfield Jonah Dawson then brought home Trussell on a rare sacrifice fly to the second baseman down the right field line. Trussell took advantage of the tough play down the line and hustled home to make it 3-1 Blaze. Meanwhile, the Blaze relief pitching came in and did a great job. Senior lefty Owen Geegan was baffling Lightning batters with his wicked movement and arm angle. He went 3 outstanding innings, giving up only 1 run on a 2-out blooper hit to shallow left that tied the game at 3 in the bottom of the 6th. But that didn't overshadow a great effort, as Geegs struck out 3, while allowing 3 hits and beaning 2. Senior Blake Schmeling came into the tie game in the 7th and stepped up with a great effort under pressure, as he retired Eastview in the 7th, leaving runners on 1st and 3rd with a big strikeout to end the inning. Unfortunately the Blaze bats were quiet in the 8th, and Eastview had a clutch 2 out single to score the winning run in the bottom of the 8th. The Blaze were led at the plate by Luke Trussell (2-3 run, RBI), Kade Bowar (1-2, run 2B, HBP), Jonah Dawson (1-2, RBI, SB, BB) and Jordon Sieben (1-3, RBI). Next game is tomorrow (Thurs Apr 15) at 4:30 at Farmington. Senior Cole Voss is expected to start on the hill.