Ely leaves record 15 on base in loss to Taconite

Ely's American Legion baseball team set a record, but a dubious one at that, Monday night at Veterans Memorial Field.

Post 248 left a whopping 15 runners on base, believed to be the most in team history for a seven-inning game, and fell 7-4 to visiting Taconite in an Eighth District Division II contest.

Opportunities came nearly every inning for Ely, but the hosts left the bases loaded three times and had two runners erased via double-plays.

Meanwhile, Kole Kalisch blasted a two-run homer to left-center in the top of the fifth, snapping a two-all deadlock and sending the West Range visitors on their way.

Taconite, which includes players from the Greenway and Nashwauk-Keewatin, had 11 hits against losing pitcher Will Gustafson but just four of its seven runs were earned, thanks to four Ely errors.

Kyle Durbin reached base five times and went three-for-four with two runs batted in for Ely, while teammates Elliot Omerza and Dylan Kienitz added two hits each.

Trailing 5-3 in the sixth, Ely loaded the bases with no outs but came up empty, thanks to a double-play ball coaxed by Kalisch, who came on in relief of winning pitcher Jacob Neumeier.

Taconite tacked on two insurance runs in the top of the seventh, but Ely countered with one run in the bottom of the frame and loaded the bases again, only to come up short.

In exhibition action Tuesday night, host Moose Lake spotted Ely a 4-0 lead but roared back and won 14-4 in six innings. The Outlaws ripped 15 hits, four by Brad Fossum.