Ely bounces back with Sir G's win

Ely's American Legion baseball team broke out of a mini-hitting slump and rapped out 16 hits in a 15-7 win over Hermantown Saturday afternoon.

Gage Merhar had three hits and three runs batted in, leadoff man Jeff Willis added three hits and scored three times, and Ben Gantt had two hits and three runs batted in as Post 248 bounced back and evened its record at 1-1 in the 10-team Sir G's Midsummer Classic.

The offense provided plenty of cushion for winning pitcher Patrick Huisman, who scattered nine hits, struck out six and was aided by two double-play balls.

A four-run fourth inning, capped by Merhar's two-run single gave Ely a 10-2 lead, but Hermantown responded with five of its own in the top of the fifth.

Ely put the game away with five runs over the next two frames, finishing the game on a walk-off, hit-by-pitch with Gantt at the plate

Hitting in the number-nine slot, Gantt reached base four times while backup first baseman Brendan Hill came off the bench to add two hits.

Ely is back in action tonight at 7:45 p.m., taking on Taconite.  Miss Ely Morgan Housey is scheduled to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

In other Sir G's action:
• Stephen-Argyle improved to 2-0 in the tournament by beating Cloquet 10-3.
• Proctor evened its tournament record at 1-1 with an 10-2 triumph over Virginia.