Monday, June 30, 2014

Ely rallies past Brookston; Kellogg delivers key hit

A two-out rally gave Ely's American Legion Baseball team a come-from-behind victory on Monday night.

Elliot Omerza's two-out hit tied the game, and Cole Kellogg followed later in the frame with a bases-clearing, three-run double as Post 248 beat visiting Brookston 5-2 in an Eighth District contest at Veterans Memorial Field.

Senior pitcher Will Gustafson pitched with a sprained ankle and went the distance to get his first win of the summer, and Ely snapped a brief two-game losing streak and improved to 7-5.

Gustafson scattered seven hits, struck out six and neither of the runs he gave up were earned.

And thanks to a big throw from rightfielder Ben Gantt, Gustafson escaped big trouble in the top of the fifth, when Brookston (3-7) scratched out a run to take a 2-1 lead.  It could have been worse, but Gantt's throw home cut down a runner trying to score from third on a fly out to right.

Brookston left the bases loaded in the fifth, and Ely responded in the bottom half of the frame with Gantt working a walk against losing pitcher Ross Schminski to start the rally.  Omerza's two-out hit tied the game, and Spencer Gaulke drew a walk to load them up for Kellogg, who laced a double to left to clear the bases.

Both Omerza and Louie Gerzin finished with two hits for Ely, which is back in action Tuesday night when it hosts Moose Lake in a 5 p.m. district twinbill.

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Omerza wins in pitching debut

Elliot Omerza didn't just win his first American Legion pitching start; he nearly made history.

The junior righthander took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and finished with a two-hitter and five strikeouts as Post 248 held on to win 6-4 at Deer River.

Omerza didn't give up an earned run, retired 15 straight batters in one stretch, and was cruising with a 6-1 lead into the seventh.

After a one-out walk, Chad Benham broke up the no-hitter, and an Ely error and a Bubba Oberg single resulted in three Deer River runs. But Omerza worked out of trouble and retired the hosts, clinching his first pitching victory in a Legion uniform and helping Post 248 win its second straight contest.

Omerza also helped his own cause, lining run-scoring hits in both the first and second frames. Spencer Gaulke and Pat Huisman also knocked in runs during a three-run second.

Ely scratched out an unearned run in the fourth and Huisman's sacrifice fly plated Gaulke in the sixth.

The winners had nine hits, with Max Gantt, Huisman, Omerza and Cole Kellogg finishing with two each.

Ely is off Wednesday and goes on the road Thursday to launch a three-day, five-game southern swing which includes single contests against BOLD, Sacred Heart and Jordan, and a Saturday twinbill with Kenyon-Wanamingo.

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Gerzin blanks Brookston; Ely finishes 2-2 at 27th DQ Classic

Louie Gerzin returned to the lineup after a brief absence and was dominant on the mound, firing a two-hitter with 11 strikeouts as Ely blasted Brookston 10-0 in Sunday's DQ Grill and Chill Classic finale.

After playing Friday and Saturday in the Play Ball Minnesota High School All-Star Series at Chanhassen, Gerzin was back in Ely red-and-black and had little trouble with Brookston.

The hard-throwing righthander struck out the side in the first inning and had a no-hitter through five frames.

Ely (3-2) scored all the runs Gerzin would need in the first, plating three without the benefit of a hit and capitalizing on five walks issued by losing pitcher Zach Johnson.

Post 248 warmed its bats up later on, with eighth-grader Gage Merhar going two-for-three in his Legion debut.

Spencer Gaulke had two hits including a two-run single and Elliot Omerza had two hits and two runs batted in.

Ely returns to action Tuesday with an Eighth District Division II league game at Deer River.

In other DQ Grill and Chill action Sunday, Madison clinched the tournament championship with a 7-3 win over Deer River. Madison and Blackduck both finished 4-0, but Madison claimed the crown by giving up 10 runs in the tournament, compared to 13 for Blackduck.

Blackduck edged Foley 5-3 Sunday and Minnetonka outscored Roseau 11-6.

Sunday action underway in 27th DQ Classic

Blackduck put itself in the running to win the the 27th annual DQ Grill and Chill Ely Legion Classic with a 5-3 win over Foley on Sunday morning.

Blackduck finished 4-0 in the nine-team event, and joins Madison (3-0) in the ranks of the unbeatens. Madison is set to play Deer River at noon, and a victory would force the title to be decided by a tournament tiebreaker - least runs allowed.

Thus far, Blackduck has given up 13 runs in four wins, while Madison has yielded 7.

Still to come at Veterans Memorial Field:
noon - Madison vs. Deer River
2:15 - Roseau vs. Minnetonka
4:30 - Ely vs. Brookston.

Ely foiled in Saturday action at DQ Classic

A pair of two-out rallies did in Ely's American Legion baseball team Saturday during the 27th annual DQ Grill and Chill Classic.

Down to its last out, Blackduck ralllied for three runs in the top of the seventh and stunned Post 248 8-6 in action Saturday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Field.

Ely had another heartbreaker under the lights, misfiring on chances in both the bottom of the sixth and bottom of the eighth and watching Madison score with two outs in the top of the ninth en route to a 7-5 extra-inning triumph.

Max Gantt suffered the tough-luck pitching loss in the nightcap. The senior did not give up an earned run as Ely struggled defensively, finishing with six errors. Gantt, Spencer Gaulke and Pat Huisman all had run-scoring hits for Post 248.

Ely, now 1-2 in the tournament and 2-2 overall, takes on Brookston at 4:15 p.m. Sunday to close out the event.

In other action Saturday:
• Blackduck 13, Deer River 2;
• Roseau 8, Taconite 2;
• Madison 10, Brookston 1;
 • Brookston 11, Deer River 3;
• Foley 10, Roseau 0;
• Foley 6, Minnetonka 1.

Friday, June 20, 2014

Huisman pitches Ely to first-round DQ win

A brilliant pitching performance by Pat Huisman got Ely off on the right foot in the opening round of the 27th annual DQ Grill and Chill Classic.

The sophomore righthander was nicked for a first-inning run but dominated the rest of the way, finishing with a four-hitter and 11 strikeouts as Post 248 clipped Foley 4-1 Friday night at Veterans Memorial Field.

Huisman's first win of the summer was a masterpiece. He issued only one walk, in the final frame, and didn't allow a hit after the fourth inning. He finished with back-to-back strikeouts to reach double digits for the first time in his Legion career.

Ely capitalized on three consecutive hits and some shaky Foley fielding to take control of the contest in the second inning. Back-to-back hits by Tayler Banks and Bradley Roy and a throwing error set the table, and sophomore Cole Kellogg's single to right tied the game.  Max Gantt reached on a two-out error, allowing both Roy and Kellogg to score and make it 3-1.

Losing pitcher Tyler Hammers kept Foley in the game, setting down nine straight hitters from the third through fifth innings.  The lefty allowed only five hits and recorded nine strikeouts.

Ely got an insurance run in the sixth, following two errors and a base hit by sophomore Spencer Gaulke.

Post 248 returns to action at 1 p.m. Saturday against Blackduck, part of a busy day that also includes a 7:45 p.m. tilt against Madison and the second annual Ely Legion Alumni game, on tap for 5:30 p.m.

In other DQ Classic action Friday:
• Blackduck 9, Taconite 3;
• Roseau 16, Deer River 0 (5);
• Madison 5, Minnetonka 1;
• Taconite 13, Brookston 2 (5).

Saturday's docket has six games in Ely and four more at Legion Field in Soudan.

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Ely pounds Taconite in five-inning opener



All in one night, Ely's American Legion baseball team won its season opener, avenged a 2013 playoff defeat, and pounded out 16 hits.
The offensive barrage, fueled by Pat Huisman and Elliot Omerza, helped give Post 248 a 13-3, five-inning victory over Taconite.
Ely scored four runs in the top of the first and sent 14 batters to the plate in an eight-run fourth, staking winning pitcher Louie Gerzin to a commanding lead.
Gerzin was nearly untouchable, battling some control problems but finishing with 11 strikeouts in four frames. Fellow senior Will Gustafson fired a scoreless fifth frame as Ely closed out the Eighth District win at Marble.
Huisman finished three-for-three at the plate and had a two-run double in the fourth, while Omerza belted three hits and drove in two runs.
Gerzin and Spencer Gaulke finished with two hits each and Gustafson drove in two runs as Ely took down a Taconite team that reached the state tournament a year ago and won its first three games this summer.
Ely is back in action Friday night (8 p.m.), taking on Foley in the first round of the DQ Grill and Chill Classic at Veterans Memorial Field.



Monday, June 16, 2014

Schedule set for 27th DQ Classic

Host Ely will be joined by eight other teams this weekend as it hosts its first major event of the year - the DQ Grill and Chill Classic.

Now in its 27th  year, the DQ Classic is one of the longest-running tournaments in Minnesota American Legion Baseball, and brings teams from around the state to Ely's historic Veterans Memorial Field - and Legion Field in Soudan - for a three-day, 18-game extravaganza.

Post 248 will take on Central Minnesota Division II power Foley Friday night (8 p.m.) under the lights and Saturday's dockets includes tilts against two first-time DQ entries - Blackduck (1 p.m.) and Madison (8 p.m.). Ely will take on Brookston at 4:15 p.m. Sunday, in an Eighth District league game, to close out the tournament.

Others in the field include Roseau, defending Eighth District Division II champion Taconite, Minnetonka and Deer River.

Coinciding with the DQ Classic is Post 248's second annual alumni game and alumni weekend festivities. More than 20 former Ely players have signed up to play in the alumni game, slated for 5:30 p.m. Saturday.

The full tournament schedule is posted below.


Tournament Schedule
Friday June 20 - Ely
12:30 p.m.- Taconite vs. Blackduck
3:00 p.m. - Roseau vs. Deer River
5:30 p.m. - Madison vs. Minnetonka
8:00 p.m. - Ely  vs. Foley

Friday June 20 - Soudan
6:00 p.m.- Brookston vs. Taconite


Saturday June 21 - Ely
8:30 a.m.- Roseau vs. Taconite
10:45 a.m. - Foley vs. Minnetonka
1:00 p.m. - Ely vs. Blackduck
3:15 p.m. - Deer River vs. Brookston
5:30 p.m. - ELY ALUMNI GAME
7:45 p.m.- Ely  vs.  Madison

Saturday June 21 - Soudan
9:30 a.m. - Deer River vs. Blackduck
noon - Brookston vs. Madison
2:30 p.m. - Roseau vs. Foley
5:00 p.m. - Taconite vs. Minnetonka

Sunday June 22 - Ely
9:30 a.m.- Foley vs. Blackduck
11:45 a.m. - Deer River vs. Madison
2:00 - Roseau vs. Minnetonka
4:15 p.m.- Ely vs. Brookston

2014 season to start Wednesday vs. Taconite

An American Legion season delayed by the success of Ely's section champion high school baseball team will get underway this week.

In a rematch of last year's district final, Post 248 opens the 2014 campaign against Taconite Wednesday (6 p.m.) at Marble.  The Eighth District Division II league contest starts a season pushed back by well over a week while the Timberwolf high school baseball team took part in the state Class A tournament, where it finished sixth.

Several key contributors to the high school team will form an imposing nucleus for Ely, including senior pitchers Louie Gerzin, Will Gustafson and Max Gantt. All three started a year ago for a Legion team that won 23 games and finished second in the district.

This week's action also includes  the DQ Grill and Chill Classic, a nine-team tournament that starts Friday at Veterans Memorial Field.

A scheduled game tonight at Esko was postponed and will be rescheduled to a later date.

Monday, June 9, 2014

Merhar's no-hitter lifts Ely Juniors

A no-hitter by pitcher Gage Merhar was among the highlights Monday night as Ely's Junior League team started the season with a doubleheader sweep of visiting Mesabi East.

Merhar's gem, which came with 12 strikeouts, came as Ely downed Mesabi East 9-0 in five innings to complete the sweep. Earlier on, Thomas Montana was on the mound in an 11-2 victory. Montana tossed a four-hitter.

Austin Kallberg and Ryan Quick both had three hits in the doubleheader for Ely, and Merhar added a bases-clearing double in the opening game, which kicked off action in the inaugural season for Iron Range Baseball, a newly-formed, 12-team league for players 14-and-under.

Ely travels to Gilbert Wednesday to take on Eveleth-Gilbert.

VFW team goes 2-2 in Taste of Ely Classic

Even a bit shorthanded, Ely managed a split over four games in a season-opening home VFW tournament.

Ely's VFW team beat Greenway 10-2 and rallied past Grand Rapids Orange 9-8 during the Taste of Ely Classic, held Saturday and Sunday at Veterans Memorial Field.  Post 2717 also dropped a 5-1 decision to Perham and lost 13-2 to Ordean (Duluth East) A during the six-team event.

Pat Huisman, a starter on Ely's high school team, sat out most of the weekend but came off the bench Sunday against Grand Rapids to deliver a two-run single in the bottom of the seventh, plating the tying and winning runs.

Another high school starter, Spencer Gaulke, did not play in the tournament except for his complete-game pitching performance in Saturday's victory over Greenway.

Sophomores Kyle Durbin and Andy Krunkkala also had big weekends at the plate for Ely, which cancelled its scheduled Tuesday twinbill with Hibbing.  Post 2717 is set to return to action Saturday with games against Aitkin and Hibbing in the Grand Rapids Tournament.

Perham and Ordean A both went 4-0 in the Taste of Ely Classic and shared championship honors.

With Wolves reaching state tourney, start of Legion season delayed

Ely's American Legion baseball season is on hold for a week, but that's just fine to players, coaches and local baseball fans.

The delay is because of the high school baseball team's ongoing tournament run, which included a victory in last Friday's Section 7A title tilt and a berth in the Class A state tournament, which starts Thursday at Chaska.

Senior Will Gustafson's four-hit shutout gave the Wolves a 2-0 win over South Ridge and the program's second 7A crown in three years. Ely (21-2) meets unbeaten and second-seeded New York Mills in a 5:30 p.m. state quarterfinal on Thursday. The game can be heard on WELY FM 94.5 and wely.com.

Gustafson, who won five games on the mound in 2013 for Ely's Legion team, is one of several returning starters for Post 248.

Legion games this week with Hibbing and Two Harbors have been scrapped and the 2014 season opener is tentatively set for Monday, June 16, at Esko.  Later that week, Ely will host the nine-team DQ Grill and Chill Classic.

Sunday, June 1, 2014

Taste of Ely VFW Classic opens summer season

While Ely's high school baseball team remains alive in the Section 7A playoffs, the summer baseball season in Ely is also slated to begin with a six-team VFW tournament: The Taste of Ely Classic.

Action begins at 9:30 a.m. Saturday June 7 and continues through the weekend at Veterans Memorial Field, with three games also scheduled at Legion Field in Soudan.

Host Ely, which returns several starters from a 2013 team that won the North Subdistrict regular season title and participated in the state tournament as the host, is joined by 2013 state tournament entrant Perham, Ordean (Duluth East), Greenway, Virginia and Grand Rapids Orange.

The full tournament schedule is below.


Taste of Ely VFW Classic
Saturday June 7 - at Ely
9:30 a.m.     Greenway vs. Virginia
12 noon       Ely vs. Greenway
2:30 p.m.     Grand Rapids Orange vs Perham
5:00 p.m.     Ordean vs. Grand Rapids Orange
7:30 p.m.     Ely vs. Perham

Saturday June 7 - at Soudan
1:30 p.m.     Ordean vs. Virginia


Sunday June 8  - at Ely
10 a.m.         Perham vs. Greenway
12:15 p.m.    Virginia vs. Grand Rapids Orange
2:30 p.m.      Ely vs. Grand Rapids Orange
4:45 p.m.      Ely vs. Ordean

Sunday June 8 - at Soudan
1:00 p.m.      Greenway vs. Ordean
3:30 p.m.      Perham vs. Virginia