For Kevin Murphy, winning games wasn’t the focus for the Park Rapids Senior Babe Ruth baseball team this summer.
Park Rapids ended up posting a 4-8 record during the three-week season, highlighted by splitting four doubleheaders. Park Rapids lost all four games to Sebeka/Menahga by scores of 6-2, 12-6, 14-1 and 6-4 while splitting games with Staples-Motley (losing 11-4 and winning 4-1), Wadena-Deer Creek (losing 6-4 and winning 1-0), Pillager (winning 5-3 and losing 4-3) and New York Mills (losing 16-0 and winning 3-1).
“Overall, our summer season was a success. Our record isn't going to show what progress we made this year, but progress we made nonetheless,” said Murphy, who coached the Park Rapids Senior Babe Ruth team and was scheduled to serve as the new head coach of the Park Rapids high school team before that season was canceled. “The main goal of this summer baseball schedule was to get experience for our ball players and that was certainly accomplished. We played some tough competition and were put to the test in every game that we played. It was great to see our players bounce back after tough losses and win some games against quality opponents.”
There were 17 players - 12 from Park Rapids and five from Nevis - who comprised the roster this summer. That group featured Park Rapids’ Cole Ackerman, Jens Anderson, Hunter Carnell, Josh Crandall, Ethan Eischens, Brody Hagen, Collin Hoyt, Ty Karger, Brendan Kruchowski, Jaxson Lund, Isaiah Olson and Harley Wellman; and Nevis’ Shep Davis, Derek Lindow, Dan Mistic, Cain Mitchell and Wyatt Rech.
“We had a lot of talent on our team and it was great to get some baseball this summer to work on improving our skills and getting prepared for next season,” said Murphy. “I'm very excited for the future of Park Rapids baseball. We have a lot of potential and I can't wait to see what we are capable of in a regular season.”
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