Roseville beats Irondale in seven inning thriller on Senior Day

The plucky Roseville Raiders Varsity Baseball Team refused to say die as they pulled out a 4-3 victory over the Irondale Knights on May 13. It took some last inning heroics as junior Elliot Paidin scored the winning run just beating the catcher's tag. The victory was icing on the cake as the fans celebrated Senior Day at the Roseville baseball diamond.

The Raiders got on top early with two runs in the first inning but the Knights clawed back and tied it up with two of their own in the third. Each team added a run in the fifth. Roseville’s Sam Wenger did the damage, driving home Jonas Harper who started the rally with a double. The game remained knotted until the seventh inning when Roseville loaded the bases leading to Paidin’s winning run on a fielder's choice.

Pitchers Jackson Hahn and Paidin kept the Irondale batters neutralized for most of the game. They were aided by three outstanding plays by the Raiders outfielders Kaden Ellingson, Max Amundson, and Aiden Venne.

Interview with Coach Greg Setterlund

The Roseville Reader: Great game Coach. Nice win on Seniors Day.

Greg Setterlund: “It was great to pull this one out. It means so much to these seniors. In a short time, some of their baseball careers will be over and these are the moments they’ll cherish.

TRR: You had talk with your team after the second inning and again before the bottom half of the third. What did you say?

GS: I reminded them to stay focused on the game. Sometimes in the past when we have had a lead, we have lost focus. I told them to keep their heads in the game and concentrate on the task at hand. 

TRR: One thing I noticed about your team is you have really good fundamentals. They hit the cutoffs, they talk it up out there, there's no collisions. Your outfielders played extremely well today. You've been here a long time now as an assistant and head coach. Is that one of the things you've really preached over the years are the fundamentals? 

GS: “You know, we might not be at the level of some of these suburban teams in our conference. So we need to do all those little things. Pitching, defense, fundamentals. I'm proud of them. No matter what the score is, they never get down. 

TRR: Tell me about Spencer Barta (senior catcher) as a person, a player, and what he means to your team?

GS: “He's not a super vocal leader, but he is the... guy in the cages, in the weight room. Phenomenal student. Just the nicest kid you'll meet. Hardest worker. When he came up as a freshman, he was kind of scrawny and slapping the ball around. He has worked himself into just an absolute stud. He's just the man.”

TRR: Tell me what you talked to the guys about after the game. What was the main thing? 

GS: “We didn't give up and that’s what really matters to me. Because that will come out when you're in a close game or when you're in a playoff game. Today we stayed with it and pulled out a win. ” 

TRR: Not giving up is a life lesson, right? 

GS: “They say baseball is life, but it's probably more life than it is baseball at this point.”

Catch the next game

Come out to cheer your Raiders at home against the East Ridge Raptors on Monday, May 18 at 4:30 pm. Sections begins May 21 at University of Northwestern in Arden Hills.

View upcoming game schedules here.