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.