Will Gustafson's return to the pitching mound proved to be a masterpiece, and Ely kept its hopes for a high playoff seed alive Wednesday night with a 3-0 home win over Deer River.
Gustafson, making his first start in more than two weeks after missing time because of an arm injury, didn't allow a Deer River runner past second base and finished with a complete-game three-hitter. He fanned seven Deer River batters.
Ely, which has won eight of its last 10 contests, got all the runs Gustafson would need in the bottom of the second, when both Jeff Willis and Patrick Huisman ripped run-scoring doubles.
Losing pitcher Chad Benham kept Ely largely at bay the rest of the night, although Post 248 scratched out an insurance run in the sixth, when Huisman walked and eventualy scored on an Elliot Omerza groundout.
Both Omerza and Krunkkala finished with two hits, but Gustafson's gem was the story of the evening.
The college freshman walked just two batters and was backed by an Ely defense that made only one error.
Ely, which can yet climb as high as second place in the Eighth District Division II standings, closes the regular season Friday with a split doubleheader against Virginia (5 p.m.) and Brookston (7:30 p.m.)
Friday is Veterans' Night at Veterans Memorial Field, with all vets admitted receiving a free hot dog and beverage, and invited out on to the field for a brief pregame ceremony before the contest with Brookston.
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