Rough start to southern swing

Ely's American Legion baseball team is 0-for-2 thus far during its visit to the Twin Cities metro area.

Powerful Norwood-Young America ripped 15 hits Thursday night in a 15-1, five-inning rout over Post 248, while Ely stranded 11 runners and yielded five unearned runs in a 7-3 Friday loss to Minneapolis South.

Ely had numerous opportunities against Minneapolis South, in a contest held at Richfield.  Two runners were stranded in scoring position in the top of the first, while Minneapolis South countered with two-run rallies in both the bottom of the first and second, aided by three Ely errors.

That put Post 248 in catch-up mode and Ely never really recovered.

Trailing 7-2 in the sixth, Ely left the bases loaded and stranded its best chance to get back in the game when a Jeff Willis gapper was caught.

Gage Merhar picked up his third hit in the final frame and courtesy runner Preston Leustek scored on a wild pitch, but two more runners were left on base.

Losing pitcher Elliot Omerza gave up six hits, while Tayler Banks worked an inning of scoreless relief.

Ely managed just four hits against three Norwood pitchers, and the hosts put the game away by scoring eight runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Post 248 closes out its southern swing Saturday at Jordan's Mini-Met, with games against host Jordan (10 a.m.) and Kenyon (noon).