Missing three of its biggest sticks in the lineup in Brooks Albrecht (injury), Luke Klitzke (college) and Evan Kohli (college), Hutchinson managed only five hits off a trio of Cold Spring pitchers. But with some flashy defense in the field, and two outstanding performances on the mound, Hutchinson was one hit from tying the game in the ninth.

Cold Spring (2-0), which has qualified for the Class B State Tournament 20 straight seasons, won the opener 2-1.

Following a leadoff walk to Andrew Dammann, first-year player Josh Wendland drove a 2-2 fastball into the right-center gap, moving Dammann to third base. Hutchinson meet Zach Femrite - Zach meet Hutchinson.

Femrite, who won 15 games last season, struck out first-year players Brian Meuleners and Jarrod Zelm to end the game. Of the final nine outs, Femrite struck out eight batters with a blazing fastball that clocked around 90 mph.

Springers' Andy Bulson and Brian Skluzacek each had an RBI in the second inning, helping Cold Spring take a 2-0 lead off starter Kyle Messner, who threw seven quality innings, scattering seven hits.

Hutchinson rallied for a run in the bottom half of the inning on a Zelm RBI-single, plating Chris Runke, who reached base on a double down the right field line.

The Huskies stayed in the game with some great defense, including an over-the-head basket catch by Meuleners, saving a run in the third inning. Meuleners also made a diving stop up the middle, rolling over and throwing out the runner at first in the seventh.

Bulson, one of three pitchers on the night for the Springers, picked up the win from the mound.

Hutchinson (0-1) travels to Maple Plain for a 2 p.m. Mother's Day matchup. The Diamond Devils lost 2-1 to Howard Lake in its opener last weekend.

Eric Kraushar is the sports editor at the Hutchinson Leader. He can be reached at sports@hutchinsonleader.com [1].