Two Harbors slides past Ely

Ely squandered too many opportunities on Tuesday and lost its bid for the number-two seed in the upcoming district playoffs.

Two Harbors pitcher Tom Bott worked his way into and out of trouble, stranding 11 Ely runners in a 3-1 victory at Veterans Memorial Field.

Bott prevailed in a pitching duel with Ely's Will Gustafson, who gave up three unearned runs while firing a five-hitter. Gustafson struck out five.

Bott overcame eight walks and a hit batter to get the win, which came in an Eighth District two-point contest and gave Two Harbors the number-two seed for the Eighth District tournament, which starts Tuesday in Ely.

Ely, which ended the regular season on a three-game losing skid, will take a 17-10 record and the number-three seed into the tournament, with a 7:30 p.m. first-round tilt with Esko up next.

After leaving the bases loaded in both the first and fourth frames, Ely got to Bott in the sixth when Cole Kellogg's double plated Max Gantt. But Bott again escaped, getting Louie Gerzin to ground out with runners in scoring position.

Two Harbors scored with the benefit of Ely's fifth error of the game in the top of the seventh, adding an insurance run.

Earlier Friday, Virginia scored five times in the first and five in the fifth en route to a 12-6 win. Jeremy Katz dorve in four runs and had three hits for the winners, backing the pitching of Devin Mayry.

Elliot Omerza went three-for-three while Zach Smith added two hits for Ely.  Bradley Roy was tagged with the loss.