Ely goes 3-1, takes second in DQ Classic

One bad inning cost Ely a four-game sweep in the DQ Grill and Chill Classic.

Virginia scored four runs in the top of the fifth, with Kyle Maki's bases-clearing double the key blow, and the visitors rallied for a 7-5 victory in the Sunday finale of the eight-team tournament held at Veterans Memorial Field.

Earlier wins over Minnetonka, Brookston and Roseau assured Post 248 of a second-place finish in a tournament won by Foley, which was a perfect 4-0.

Ely's chance at perfection was spoiled by Virginia, which scored all four fifth-inning runs with two outs. Virginia added an insurance run in the seventh and Seth Holmes earned the save by coaxing a double-play ball after Ely put runners at first and second.

Max Gantt's two-run single in the fourth had given Ely a 4-2 lead, and Pat Huisman added a run-scoring double in the same inning. Both Gantt and Sean Fisher had two hits for the hosts, while Bobby Shusta was tagged with the loss on the mound.

Saturday night, Trevor Bernsdorf held Roseau to two hits and Fisher had a bases-clearing double in the third as Ely pulled away for an 11-3 victory.

Leadoff man Cody Bialik scored twice while Fisher, hitting in the number-two hole, ripped two doubles.  Louie Gerzin also had two hits to back the pitching of Bernsdorf, who did not give up an earned run.

In earlier action Saturday, Will Gustafson blanked Brookston while tossing a five-hitter in a 6-0 Ely victory. Huisman had two doubles and drove in a run, while both Riley Bernsdorf and Fisher had two hits.

Bialik, who is hitting a team-high .480 and has an on-base percentage of nearly .700, went three-for-four with three runs scored.

In other games Sunday, Roseau rallied for a 5-4, nine-inning win over Hibbing and Foley clinched the DQ Classic title by blasting Minnetonka 10-1.

Final tournament standings were:
Foley      4-0
Ely         3-1
Roseau   3-1
Hibbing   2-2
Virginia   2-2
Minnetonka  1-3
Taconite    1-3
Brookston  0-4