Apple Valley wins quiet-bat contest to beat Chaska in baseball

Chaska and pitcher John Straka was successful in quieting down the red-hot baseball bats of Apple Valley on Monday.

Problem was, the Eagles hushed the Hawks' bats more.

Valley scored a 1-0 victory at Athletic Park, behind a three-hit shutout by Justin Radde.

Straka allowed six hits, and yielded the Eagles just a third-inning run while striking out five. Radde fanned six, while allowing a hit to Cory Glieden and two to Adam Peterson.

The Hawks' best chance to score came in the second inning, as Peterson led off with a single, went to second on a wild pitch and took third on a Straka groundout. But Radde got out unscathed, by getting two fly-ball outs.

The Eagles pushed the run across in the third, as Andy Schwantes was safe at first on a throwing error, and ended up scampering all the way to third base. Schwantes then scored on a groundout by Scott Splett.

Chaska had a chance to tie in the fourth inning. Peterson dinged a one-out single, took second on a wild pitch and was awarded third base on a balk. But a strikeout and groundout kept the Hawks scoreless.

Radde retired the final 11 Hawk batters. 

 The Hawks (11-5 overall, 10-5 in the Lake Conference) have now dropped two in a row after a 6-3 setback Friday to Burnsville.

Chaska plays at 4:15 p.m. on Wednesday at Rosemount, and visits Burnsville's Alimagnet Park for a rematch with the Blaze at 7 p.m. on Thursday.

The Hawks polish off the regular season at 7 p.m. on Saturday at home against Mayer Lutheran.

- By Tim McGovern, Herald Sports Editor