Diamond breakthrough

This was not supposed to be the way their season year was supposed to go.
OK, that may be the biggest “duh” statement written on the pages of the Tribune, but we’re not talking about missing the last two months of school, not having prom, going through a virtual commencement and having a live ceremony at the end of June.
We’re talking baseball.
And 2-6 at New Hampton doesn’t cut it.
So the day after losing to Nashua-Plainfield 6-5, the Chickasaws had one of those heart-to-heart meetings, and it must have worked as they pounded Denver in 16-1 to snap a three-game losing skid.
“Coach Mac basically told us if you’re not all in by Monday, you’re out,” said senior Conner Gorman, who went 2-for-3 and drove in three runs. “He had one of those talks, you know what I mean? There was definitely no BS, and we needed it.”
The Chickasaws played probably their best all-around game of the season in the four-inning victory over the Cyclones.
Senior Austin Hemann tossed a two-hitter, struck out five and didn’t walk a batter to get the win, and at the plate, he was hit by two pitches and smacked a double that ended the game via the 15-run rule.
— For more on this story, see the June 30 Tribune