Former Johnnies pitcher Kilde helps Metro Knights shut out Hopkins

After two years of season-ending losses at the hands of St. Louis Park (2019) then Minnetonka Millers (2020), the Metro Knights were pleased to see a different Riverview League opponent in the 2021 Round of 16. Entering the tournament as the two-seed from the Skyline League, the Knights eliminated Hopkins Berries on Saturday night with a 5-0 shutout.

Starting pitcher Lance Kindle (St. John’s University ’19) was brilliant for the Knights, pitching seven innings while allowing just one hit and striking out seven. University of St. Thomas pitcher Duke Coborn closed out the game pitching the final two innings striking out four.

Metro Knights scored the only run they would need in the second inning when Ben Suits hit a solo home run of Hopkins starter Alex Lambert.

The Knights would add three runs in the fourth with Chris Jacobs, Chester Dixon and John Holleran all driving in a run. The score remained 4-0 until the eighth when the Knights added one more for the final tally.

Next up for Metro Knights is a quarterfinal matchup against Park National champ Baseball 365.