Anoka Ramsey’s 2009 season ended May 1 with back-to-back losses in the MCAC (conference) tournament in St. Cloud. Anoka Ramsey collected a total of 21 hits in its two games, but it fell 18-9 to Itasca and 5-4 to Northland as it was eliminated.

In the game with Itasca, Casey Vankrevelen (freshman, Andover) led the charge with three hits, including a triple, as Anoka Ramsey jumped out to a 7-4 lead in the second inning. But the team’s momentum slowed while Itasca kept going, taking a 14-7 lead into the fourth.  In the end, Anoka Ramsey was out-hit just 12 to 11 in the game, but Itasca took advantage of eight walks and two more hit batters to make its number [of hits] count more.

In the game with Northland, Zach Schroeder (freshman, Concordia Academy) and Benny Nergard (freshman, Fridley) had three hits each. But this game ended in heart break when Anoka Ramsey pitcher Brett Boxwell (freshman, Coon Rapids), who seemed to be on his way to a 4-3 victory gave up a solo home run, then a triple in the last of the sixth. Vankrevelen came on in relief and was out of the jam, but a missed throw at the plate for what would have been a sure third out allowed Northland to score the game-winning run…