Game of the Week results: Woodbury tops East Ridge in rivalry match-up

Woodbury came out on top Friday over rival East Ridge in a textbook pitchers’ duel.

The Royals won 1-0, improving their Suburban East Conference record to 4-5 – the same conference record as the Raptors fell to after the loss.

Woodbury pitcher Noah Danner threw a three-hit performance in the complete game win.

“He threw strikes, just like our guy,” East Ridge coach Brian Sprout said, referring to Raptors’ starting pitcher Andy Kemper.

Woodbury scored the game’s lone run in the bottom of the fifth when senior Joe Wood ripped a fastball up the middle, scoring Ryan Scanlon.

“That was a big RBI,” said Kevin McDermott, head coach of the Royals.

For East Ridge, the close game represents a moment to regroup as the team heads into the second half of its season schedule.

Sprout said success will rely on timely hitting.

“We’ve got to find way to get clutch hits when we need them,” he said. “That’s the difference.”

Next week, the Raptors face Hastings, White Bear Lake and Mounds View.

For Woodbury, the win stopped a two-game skid and provides what McDermott described as a kick-start.

“This is a nice momentum game for us,” he said.

Momentum won’t hurt the Royals as they brace for next week’s action: games against the conference’s top three teams: Cretin-Derham Hall, Forest Lake and Roseville. In addition to those SEC teams, the Royals will face nonconference opponent Tartan next week.

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