Alex Koschak's one-out double to center plated Cody Bialik with the game-winning run and sent top-seeded Ely (19-5) into a Friday night winners' bracket showdown against number-two Deer River.
But Post 248's victory was anything but easy. Winning pitcher Nick Pecha, who earlier in the night was named a co-winner of the Mark Hernesmaa/David Chelesnik Jr. Memorial Award, won his ninth-straight decision but had to work out of a bases- loaded, two-out jam in the top of the seventh to do it.
It set the stage for the bottom of the seventh, when Aaron Donais worked a leadoff walk against losing pitcher Bryce Karppinen, who allowed only three hits. Sean Fisher then popped out on a bunt attempt, but Josh Ojala, who joined Pecha as this year's Hernesmaa/Chelesnik Award co-recipients, was hit by a pitch with one out. Koschak then lifted a Karppinen offering deep to center, and Bialik, a pinch-runner, scored easily from second.
Ely took a 2-0 lead early, as Nick Mathews singled an scored on a Greg Helget squeeze bunt in the second. Two walks and a Mathews single gave the hosts a two-run lead.
But the advantage was short-lived. Brookston scored on on two hits in the fourth, while two singles, an error and a passed ball allowed the visitors to go up 3-2 in the top of the fifth.
Ely tied it in the bottom of the fifth, when Fisher scored from third on an errant pick off throw.
Pecha, now 9-0, tossed a complete-game six-hitter with nine strikeouts. Karppinen was equally brilliant in defeat, fanning 10 Ely batters, giving up just three hits and allowing only two earned runs.
In other action on Wednesday, Deer River scored twice in the seventh to beat Esko 6-5, and Chisholm eliminated Marble 11-5.
Playoff action resumes Friday in Ely, with three elimination-round contests at noon, 2:30 and 5 p.m. Chisholm takes on Brookston, Esko meets Cook County, and the winners meet in the third game. Ely and Deer River square off at 7:30, with the winner gaining a berth in Sunday's title tilt.
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