On an afternoon when the heat index was soaring into triple figures, offenses were producing double figure totals in runs and hits at Fossum Field.

In a game that featured 26 runs and 33 hits, Renner rallied from an early deficit to claim a 16-10 win over Aberdeen Circus Sports Bar in Amateur baseball action on Saturday afternoon.

The event was originally scheduled for two seven-inning games, but was changed to a single nine-inning contest and eventually ended with a heat index of 105 degrees.

“This was one of the hotter games anyone one of us has ever played in,” said Circus shortstop Michael Babcock.

It turned out the decision to spend less time on the diamond in the extreme conditions was a practical one.

“We just talked before the game and we looked at the heat index,” Babcock said. “We have regions coming up, both teams do, there’s no reason to get anyone hurt or sick or anything like that.”

After Renner plated a run in the top of the first inning, Circus jumped in front with five runs in the bottom half of the inning.

Kelly Coates drove in a run with a single, and then with two outs, Tyler Hoffman delivered a two-run double, and Talan Dutenhoeffer added a two-run single.

However, that lead was short lived as Renner put up eight runs in the top of the second inning thanks to six singles and five walks.

“It doesn’t matter who they show up with, Renner’s Renner. You’re going to be in for a dogfight,” Babcock said. “They can play baseball and they know how to play.”

Circus held its own, responding with two runs in the bottom of the second on a Wolf’Don Thorson RBI triple, and a Babcock run-producing single.

Renner added another run in the third, before Aberdeen scored twice in the fourth and once in the fifth, all on Renner errors to even the score at 10-10.

However, the visitors scored the final six runs of the game, one in the sixth, three in the seventh and two in the eighth, to take control.

Corey Vasquez, Tony Lanier, Seth Miller, Adam Durfee, Cole Kraemer each had three hits for Renner, which finished with 22 hits overall.

Babcock, Kris Kwak, Hoffman, and Dutenhoffer each had two hits for Circus.

“I really liked our young guys coming in. We were kind of shorthanded today,” Babcock said. “We were missing quite a few starters, but we couldn’t tell at the plate. We had good at-bats, fouled off a lot of pitches, and those pitchers we saw, that last guy is one of the best pitchers in the state. That (Jeremiah) Mauch, he just got done in minor league baseball.”

As the team prepares for regional action this weekend in Brookings, Babcock said it was good to see quality pitching as it heads into the postseason.

“It’s good to see guys like that, because going forward, the teams that show up during the week, during the season, aren’t always the team’s you see in the region, especially in the A’s,” Babcock said. “Every team that you see will have a college or minor-league pitcher from here on out, so we need to see pitching like that.”

Like it did against perennial power Renner, Circus has held its own against the top teams in the state during the regular season. Babcock likes Aberdeen’s depth as it gets ready for its biggest games of the season.

“We’re trying to play good baseball and right now we’re pretty deep,” Babcock said. “We need some pitching to step up here, which I think we’re kind of getting more towards that where guys are starting to find their rhythm. We’ve got to play good defense, but our sticks have been good all year.”

Renner 181 001 320 – 16 22 5

Aberdeen Circus 520 210 000 – 10 11 0

Cole Kraemer, Dave Borchardt (2), Jed Schmidt (6), Jeremiah Mauch (8) and Dylan Carlson; Tyler Clapp, Juan Alcoverde (2) and Kelly Coates. 2B – Renner, Seth Miller 2, Kraemer, Schmidt, Tony Lanier; Aberdeen Circus, Tyler Hoffman. 3B – Renner, Chaz Palmer; Aberdeen Circus, Wolf’Don Thorson.