Some timely hitting and a stellar pitching performance by senior Will Gustafson helped Ely's American Legion baseball team pick up a key district win.
Gustafson tossed a three-hitter and didn't allow an earned run, and Cole Kellogg's run-scoring double in the bottom of the sixth provided key insurance in a 3-2 Little League Night victory over Taconite at Veterans Memorial Field.
Before a crowd that included all four of Ely's Little League teams, Post 248 completed a regular season sweep over the defending district champions - with Gustafson keeping the visitors at bay.
The crafty righthander blanked Taconite through four frames and gave up an unearned run in the fifth that tied the game.
Ely grabbed the edge right back in the home half of the fifth, with Jeff Willis lacing a leadoff double and scoring on Elliot Omerza's fielders choice.
Kellogg knocked in Spencer Gaulke in the sixth to make it 3-1, but Ely had to survive some anxious moments in the seventh. Pat Shea's two-out pop-up was dropped, allowing Joe LaDoux to score from second and giving Taconite new life.
But Gustafson got losing pitcher John LaBine to fly out to end the rally and give Post 248 its third straight win and sixth victory in seven outings.
Omerza knocked in two runs for the winners, and Willis went two-for-four at the plate.
After off days Wednesday and Thursday, Ely returns to action Friday at 8 p.m. when it meets Pine City in the opening round of the 10-team Sir G's Midsummer Classic.
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
Monday, July 7, 2014
Gerzin's first homer powers Legion sweep
Louie Gerzin's first career home run ignited a stalled offense and Ely's American Legion baseball team went on to an easy sweep of visiting Cook County on Monday.
Gerzin's three-run blast was the key blow in a 10-0, six-inning opening game win, while Ely kept on hitting in the nightcap, cruising 15-1 in five innings.
The matinee also featured strong pitching from Ely (11-6), with Gerzin firing a two-hit shutout with 13 strikeouts in the opener and senior Max Gantt following up with an 11-strikeout performance against a young, overmatched Cook County (0-9) team.
Gerzin's fourth-inning blast over the left field fence gave Ely a 6-0 lead and Post 248 finished things early with a four-run sixth, with Gerzin lacing a run-scoring hit to end the game.
Pat Huisman doubled in a run for the winners while Spencer Gaulke was three-for-four with a run batted in. Ben Gantt added two singles.
Ely sent 13 batters to the plate and scored nine times in the first inning to take control of the nightcap.
Will Gustafson finished three-for-four at the plate with three runs scored, while both Jeff Willis and Bradley Roy had two hits and three runs batted in.
Max Gantt had two hits and scored three times, and kept Cook County at bay while going the distance on a four-hitter.
Ely is back in action Tuesday night with a key district contest against Taconite. Start time is 7 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Field, as Ely Baseball Days continues with Little League Night. Members of all four Ely Little League teams will be introduced, and hot dogs will be on sale at the ballpark for $1.
Gerzin's three-run blast was the key blow in a 10-0, six-inning opening game win, while Ely kept on hitting in the nightcap, cruising 15-1 in five innings.
The matinee also featured strong pitching from Ely (11-6), with Gerzin firing a two-hit shutout with 13 strikeouts in the opener and senior Max Gantt following up with an 11-strikeout performance against a young, overmatched Cook County (0-9) team.
Gerzin's fourth-inning blast over the left field fence gave Ely a 6-0 lead and Post 248 finished things early with a four-run sixth, with Gerzin lacing a run-scoring hit to end the game.
Pat Huisman doubled in a run for the winners while Spencer Gaulke was three-for-four with a run batted in. Ben Gantt added two singles.
Ely sent 13 batters to the plate and scored nine times in the first inning to take control of the nightcap.
Will Gustafson finished three-for-four at the plate with three runs scored, while both Jeff Willis and Bradley Roy had two hits and three runs batted in.
Max Gantt had two hits and scored three times, and kept Cook County at bay while going the distance on a four-hitter.
Ely is back in action Tuesday night with a key district contest against Taconite. Start time is 7 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Field, as Ely Baseball Days continues with Little League Night. Members of all four Ely Little League teams will be introduced, and hot dogs will be on sale at the ballpark for $1.
Saturday, July 5, 2014
Rain washes out VFW games
Heavy rains in the Ely area forced the postponement of Saturday's action in the Ely Auto Services VFW Showcase.
Andover led Ely 4-1 in the fifth inning of the opening game when the rains came. Brief but very heavy downpours soaked the infield and left standing water - forcing officials to scrap the rest of the schedule for the day.
Sunday's games are on as planned, with Ely and Andover set to resume their game at 10:30 a.m., followed by the regularly scheduled contest between Ely and Andover. Andover and Ordean will meet in the following contest, with Ely and Ordean set to close out the day.
Andover led Ely 4-1 in the fifth inning of the opening game when the rains came. Brief but very heavy downpours soaked the infield and left standing water - forcing officials to scrap the rest of the schedule for the day.
Sunday's games are on as planned, with Ely and Andover set to resume their game at 10:30 a.m., followed by the regularly scheduled contest between Ely and Andover. Andover and Ordean will meet in the following contest, with Ely and Ordean set to close out the day.
VFW Showcase, Ely Baseball Days get underway
A three-team VFW tournament starts today at Veterans Memorial Field and marks the start of the first-ever Ely Baseball Days celebration.
The Ely Auto Services VFW Showcase begins at 2 p.m, with Ely taking on Twin Cities power Andover in the first of three games today at Veterans Memorial Field.
Ordean (Duluth East) is also part of the round-robin event and will meet Andover at 4:30 and Ely at 7 p.m. The teams play in the same order Sunday, with contests at 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
The event coincides with the start of Ely Baseball Days, aimed at promoting Ely's baseball program and rich baseball history and including a series of events and special promotions throughout the week, culminating in next weekend's 10-team Sir G's Legion Midsummer Classic.
The Ely Auto Services VFW Showcase begins at 2 p.m, with Ely taking on Twin Cities power Andover in the first of three games today at Veterans Memorial Field.
Ordean (Duluth East) is also part of the round-robin event and will meet Andover at 4:30 and Ely at 7 p.m. The teams play in the same order Sunday, with contests at 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
The event coincides with the start of Ely Baseball Days, aimed at promoting Ely's baseball program and rich baseball history and including a series of events and special promotions throughout the week, culminating in next weekend's 10-team Sir G's Legion Midsummer Classic.
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Ely Baseball Days celebration begins
Veterans Memorial Field will be the hub for this week for Ely's newest celebration.
The community's rich baseball history, its vibrant youth program and a recent penchant for hosting tournaments comes together for the first-ever Ely Baseball Days.
The community's rich baseball history, its vibrant youth program and a recent penchant for hosting tournaments comes together for the first-ever Ely Baseball Days.
The nine-day celebration includes a pair of tournaments - this weekend's Ely Auto Services VFW Showcase and next weekend's Sir G's Legion Midsummer Classic - and will be full of special events and promotions.
Discounted food items, prize giveaways, recognition ceremonies and plenty of baseball - 29 games at the ballpark during the extravaganza - are on the docket.
It's part of an attempt to enhance fan support for local teams and draw attention to the community's baseball program as well as Ely's many tournaments, which bring hundreds of people to town.
The activities include three games both Saturday and Sunday as part of the VFW tournament, and games all week long leading to the 10-team Sir G's Midsummer Classic, which starts Friday, July 11.
Among the special events include:
• Senior Citizen Day during the Legion team's 1 p.m. matinee doubleheader with Cook County on Monday, with all seniors receiving a free beverage with the purchase of a concession stand sandwich;
• $1 hot dogs both Tuesday (Legion vs. Taconite, 7 p.m.) and Wednesday (Junior League tripleheader, starting at 3:30);
• Little League Night Tuesday with the introduction of all four Ely majors teams, including the league champion Cardinals;
• Prize drawings during Wednesday's Junior League tripleheader involving Ely, Cook County and Virginia;
• Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital Night, set for the Friday evening session in the Sir G's Midsummer Classic;
• An Ely baseball history display, which can be viewed at the ballpark throughout the Sir G's Midsummer Classic.
T-shirts recognizing and hailing the Ely Baseball Family will be on sale for $15, with proceeds supporting local baseball.
Organizers are also hoping to grow the Ely Baseball Days celebration next year and beyond, involving local organizations and recognizing Ely baseball alumni and previous championship teams.
Look for updates throughout the week on Ely Baseball Days.
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
Katz, Virginia blank Ely
Ely couldn't cash in on a pair of scoring chances Wednesday night, and Virginia made the most of its lone opportunity.
That, and the pitching of Virginia's Jeremy Katz, were the difference in Virginia's 3-0 victory over Ely at Stock Field.
Visiting Ely left two runners aboard in the top of the first and Katz got a double-play ball to escape a fifth-inning jam en route to a two-hit shutout and 12 strikeouts over six innings. Teammate Ryan Cunningham set down Ely in order in the seventh.
Virginia got all three runs against losing pitcher Louie Gerzin in the second, getting four of its five hits in the frame and capitalizing on an error and a balk.
That was it for the hosts, as Gerzin struck out 10 while losing his first start of the summer.
Max Gantt and Pat Huisman had Ely's only hits.
Ely is off for four days and returns to action Monday for an afternoon matinee doubleheader against Cook County. Start time is 1 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Field.
• Earlier Wednesday, Huisman had a grand slam in the Ely VFW team's 14-4 win at Virginia. The VFW hosts the Ely Auto Services Showcase Saturday and Sunday.
That, and the pitching of Virginia's Jeremy Katz, were the difference in Virginia's 3-0 victory over Ely at Stock Field.
Visiting Ely left two runners aboard in the top of the first and Katz got a double-play ball to escape a fifth-inning jam en route to a two-hit shutout and 12 strikeouts over six innings. Teammate Ryan Cunningham set down Ely in order in the seventh.
Virginia got all three runs against losing pitcher Louie Gerzin in the second, getting four of its five hits in the frame and capitalizing on an error and a balk.
That was it for the hosts, as Gerzin struck out 10 while losing his first start of the summer.
Max Gantt and Pat Huisman had Ely's only hits.
Ely is off for four days and returns to action Monday for an afternoon matinee doubleheader against Cook County. Start time is 1 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Field.
• Earlier Wednesday, Huisman had a grand slam in the Ely VFW team's 14-4 win at Virginia. The VFW hosts the Ely Auto Services Showcase Saturday and Sunday.
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Seventh-inning rally fuels sweep of Moose Lake
A wild finish in the opening game sent Ely's American Legion baseball team on to a doubleheader sweep Tuesday night against visiting Moose Lake.
Ely scored twice with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, with the tying run scoring on a wild pitch and the winning run coming across after a throwing error at home plate, to pull out a 3-2 first-game win at chilly Veterans Memorial Field. Post 248 took the nightcap 13-5 behind the pitching of Max Gantt and an 11-hit attack.
The first game had one of the strangest endings in the history of Ely baseball. Trailing 2-1 with two outs in the seventh, the hosts loaded the bases on walks to Max Gantt and Louie Gerzin and a single by Pat Huisman.
With Elliot Omerza at the plate, losing pitcher Teddy Ryan's 2-1 pitch evaded the Moose Lake catcher. Gantt scored easily from third, and the catcher's throw to the plate sailed past the pitcher and allowed Gerzin to score all the way from second.
The walkoff win gave Pat Huisman his third pitching victory. The sophomore righthander scattered six hits, gave up just one earned run, and reached double digits in strikeouts for a third straight start and finished with 11. Huisman also had two of Ely's six hits against Ryan.
In the second game, Ely scored four times in the bottom of the first to stake Gantt to an early lead, but Moose Lake rallied and took a 5-4 lead in the third, scoring without the benefit of a hit.
The visitors' lead was short-lived, as Ely responded with a run in the third and seven more in the fourth.
Senior Will Gustafson helped lead the hit parade, going three-for-five for the evening with three runs batted in, including a two-run single in the fourth. Huisman also lined a two-run single during the frame and wound up with two hits and three runs batted in. Gantt and Cole Kellogg added two hits each.
After a brief bout with wildness in the third, Gantt settled in and finished with a four-hitter and his first win of the summer. He struck out two.
Ely scored twice with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, with the tying run scoring on a wild pitch and the winning run coming across after a throwing error at home plate, to pull out a 3-2 first-game win at chilly Veterans Memorial Field. Post 248 took the nightcap 13-5 behind the pitching of Max Gantt and an 11-hit attack.
The first game had one of the strangest endings in the history of Ely baseball. Trailing 2-1 with two outs in the seventh, the hosts loaded the bases on walks to Max Gantt and Louie Gerzin and a single by Pat Huisman.
With Elliot Omerza at the plate, losing pitcher Teddy Ryan's 2-1 pitch evaded the Moose Lake catcher. Gantt scored easily from third, and the catcher's throw to the plate sailed past the pitcher and allowed Gerzin to score all the way from second.
The walkoff win gave Pat Huisman his third pitching victory. The sophomore righthander scattered six hits, gave up just one earned run, and reached double digits in strikeouts for a third straight start and finished with 11. Huisman also had two of Ely's six hits against Ryan.
In the second game, Ely scored four times in the bottom of the first to stake Gantt to an early lead, but Moose Lake rallied and took a 5-4 lead in the third, scoring without the benefit of a hit.
The visitors' lead was short-lived, as Ely responded with a run in the third and seven more in the fourth.
Senior Will Gustafson helped lead the hit parade, going three-for-five for the evening with three runs batted in, including a two-run single in the fourth. Huisman also lined a two-run single during the frame and wound up with two hits and three runs batted in. Gantt and Cole Kellogg added two hits each.
After a brief bout with wildness in the third, Gantt settled in and finished with a four-hitter and his first win of the summer. He struck out two.
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