In one of the most dramatic finishes ever seen at the local ballpark, Ely rallied past Deer River 9-8 Friday night when Snyder launched his first career home run: a two-out, three-run blast over the centerfield fence that gave Post 248 a most dramatic and improbable victory.
Ely, now 20-5, moved into Sunday's title game and rallied from four runs down to do it. The hosts trailed 7-3 after five frames and were down 8-6 going into the seventh.
Josh Ojala started the rally when he reached base on an error, and a two-out walk to Jory Johnson set the stage for Snyder. The sophomore, who also stroked a two-run double in the sixth, cracked an 0-1 pitch from Deer River reliever Travis Kane deep to center. Outfielder Cody Willis ran out of room, and the Ely bench mobbed Snyder at the plate.
Post 248 will play for a district title for the 12th time in 13 seasons and will shoot for its ninth state berth in the same timeframe Sunday (4 p.m.), when it meets either Chisholm or Deer River.
Ely shook off a shaky start and stormed back late to beat Deer River for the third time this year.
After stranding 10 runners through five innings, Ely broke through in the sixth. A two-out double by Snyder closed the gap to 7-5 and put some pressure on Deer River (11-8). After Greg Helget was hit by a pitch and Louie Gerzin walked, Aaron Donais drew a bases-loaded walk and sliced the gap to 7-6. Kane got Sean Fisher to ground out to end the rally.
Deer River added an insurance run in the top of the seventh, when Lance Latvala singled off of Nick Pecha, who came on in the seventh after Snyder and Alex Koschak. But Pecha, now 10-0, escaped further damage and Ely bounced back in the bottom half of the frame.
After Ojala reached, it looked like Kane would preserve the lead for the visitors when he retired both Koschak and Nick Mathews. But Johnson's walk extended the game, and Snyder followed with his first-ever round-tripper.
Snyder, who finished with five runs batted in, was the hero at the plate after a shaky outing on the mound. Deer River scored four runs in the first two frames to chase the lefty, bringing on Koschak in relief
The junior righthander settled in after giving up a run in the third and two in the fourth, but he gave way to Pecha after beaning Jack Carter to start the seventh.
Deer River finished with nine hits, including three by Cole Knudson. Jack Carter scored twice and Luke Benson drove in two runs. Starting pitcher Cody Willis gave up three runs on four hits, through three innings, before giving way to Kane.
Deer River and Chisholm now meet in an elimination game at 8 p.m. Saturday, and the winner must beat Ely twice on Sunday to claim the district title.
In elimination round action on Friday, Chisholm edged Brookston 5-4 behind the pitching of Tony Clement, and Cook County shocked Esko 13-3 in five innings. Chisholm then eliminated Cook County 12-3.
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