The 28th annual DQ Grill and Chill Classic has a small-town feel.
The seven-team tournament, which starts Friday at Veterans Memorial Field, consists entirely of Division II squads for the first time in the nearly three-decade history of the event.
Host Ely will be joined by district rivals Two Harbors, Deer River and Esko, and three out-of-the-area teams that are contenders in their own respective districts.
Foley, a DQ Classic mainstay and last year's third-place finisher in the Division II state tournament as does Roseau, Ely's Friday night (8 p.m.) opponent. Moving to the DQ Classic this year after participating in the Sir G's Midsummer Classic the last three years is Kenyon, a southern Minnesota D2 power.
The tournament gets underway with four games Friday (see schedule), with Saturday's slate set to include six contests at Veterans Memorial Field and two more in neighboring Soudan.
Part of the Saturday lineup is the annual Ely Legion Alumni Game, scheduled for 5:30 p.m. More than 20 former Ely players plan to participate in the event.
DQ Grill and Chill Classic Schedule
Friday
12:30 p.m. - Kenyon vs. Deer River
3:00 p.m. - Deer River vs. Two Harbors
5:30 p.m.- Foley vs. Esko
8:00 p.m. - Ely vs. Roseau
Saturday
8:30 a.m. - Esko vs. Kenyon
10:45 a.m. - Roseau vs. Foley
11:45 a.m. - Esko vs. Two Harbors (AT SOUDAN)
1:00 p.m. - Ely vs. Kenyon
2:15 p.m. - Roseau vs. Deer River (AT SOUDAN)
3:15 p.m.- Two Harbors vs. Foley
5:30 p.m.- Ely Alumni Game
7:45 p.m. - Ely vs. Deer River
Sunday
10:00 a.m. - Foley vs. Kenyon
12:30 p.m. - Roseau vs. Two Harbors
3:00 p.m. - Ely vs. Esko
Thursday, June 18, 2015
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
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.
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.
Sunday, June 14, 2015
Ely splits at Wade
Ely's American Legion baseball team survived a disastrous inning and rebounded to win the opening game of a Friday evening doubleheader at Wade Stadium.
Cook County erased an 8-0 Ely lead with eight runs in the top of the fourth, but Post 248 weathered the storm and went on to an 11-8 victory behind the pitching of junior Patrick Huisman.
In the nightcap, Ely couldn't solve Cook County's Frankie Miller, who fired a three-hitter in a 7-3 win.
Post 248 seemed to be cruising in the opener after a seven-run first inning, but Cook County took advantage of four Ely errors and had a big inning of its own in the fourth, when it sent 12 batters to the plate.
But Huisman didn't give up a run the rest of the way and finished with an eight-hitter, eight strikeouts and his second win of the summer.
Ely regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth, when Brody Skala singled in Jeff Willis. Skala also knocked in a run in Post 248's two-run sixth.
Will Gustafson had a two-run single in the opening frame and wound up with two hits and three runs batted in.
Miller held Ely without a hit through five innings of the second game, and his teammates staked the righthander to a 4-0 lead.
That held up until the sixth, when an error, three walks and a hit batter helped Ely slice the lead to one.
But Miller stranded the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position, and Cook County got three unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth against reliever Spencer Gaulke.
Elliot Omerza took the loss, working the first three innings with Gaulke coming on in relief.
Ely returns to action Monday night against district rival Taconite, with the opening pitch slated for 7 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Field.
Cook County erased an 8-0 Ely lead with eight runs in the top of the fourth, but Post 248 weathered the storm and went on to an 11-8 victory behind the pitching of junior Patrick Huisman.
In the nightcap, Ely couldn't solve Cook County's Frankie Miller, who fired a three-hitter in a 7-3 win.
Post 248 seemed to be cruising in the opener after a seven-run first inning, but Cook County took advantage of four Ely errors and had a big inning of its own in the fourth, when it sent 12 batters to the plate.
But Huisman didn't give up a run the rest of the way and finished with an eight-hitter, eight strikeouts and his second win of the summer.
Ely regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth, when Brody Skala singled in Jeff Willis. Skala also knocked in a run in Post 248's two-run sixth.
Will Gustafson had a two-run single in the opening frame and wound up with two hits and three runs batted in.
Miller held Ely without a hit through five innings of the second game, and his teammates staked the righthander to a 4-0 lead.
That held up until the sixth, when an error, three walks and a hit batter helped Ely slice the lead to one.
But Miller stranded the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position, and Cook County got three unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth against reliever Spencer Gaulke.
Elliot Omerza took the loss, working the first three innings with Gaulke coming on in relief.
Ely returns to action Monday night against district rival Taconite, with the opening pitch slated for 7 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Field.
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Skala powers Ely to first win
Brody Skala is making a big impact in his first season in an Ely American Legion baseball uniform.
Skala's double in the bottom of the seventh gave Ely a walkoff, 9-8 win over district rival Two Harbors Wednesday night at Veterans Memorial Field.
And two innings earlier, Skala's first career home run - a two-run blast over the center field fence - powered a five-run Ely uprising.
The hits keyed Post 248's first win of the season, a seesaw affair.
Skala's home run and a two-run triple by Kyle Durbin put the hosts up 8-4 after five innings, but Two Harbors countered with three runs in the sixth, then nicked reliever Pat Huisman for a run with two outs in the top of the seventh.
That set the stage for the bottom half of the frame, when Huisman and Gage Merhar drew two-out walks, and Skala followed with his shot to the left-center gap.
Skala wound up with three runs batted in for the winners, while teammates Durbin and Will Gustafson added two hits each.
Huisman worked an inning on the mound and got the win, relieving Gustsafson, who scattered 10 hits in six frames.
Starting pitcher Lucas Kempffer had two hits for Two Harbors, while reliever Easton Best - the third Two Harbors pitcher - was tagged with the loss.
Ely is back in action Friday with a doubleheader against Cook County, at Duluth's renovated Wade Stadium. The first pitch is at 4:30 p.m.
Skala's double in the bottom of the seventh gave Ely a walkoff, 9-8 win over district rival Two Harbors Wednesday night at Veterans Memorial Field.
And two innings earlier, Skala's first career home run - a two-run blast over the center field fence - powered a five-run Ely uprising.
The hits keyed Post 248's first win of the season, a seesaw affair.
Skala's home run and a two-run triple by Kyle Durbin put the hosts up 8-4 after five innings, but Two Harbors countered with three runs in the sixth, then nicked reliever Pat Huisman for a run with two outs in the top of the seventh.
That set the stage for the bottom half of the frame, when Huisman and Gage Merhar drew two-out walks, and Skala followed with his shot to the left-center gap.
Skala wound up with three runs batted in for the winners, while teammates Durbin and Will Gustafson added two hits each.
Huisman worked an inning on the mound and got the win, relieving Gustsafson, who scattered 10 hits in six frames.
Starting pitcher Lucas Kempffer had two hits for Two Harbors, while reliever Easton Best - the third Two Harbors pitcher - was tagged with the loss.
Ely is back in action Friday with a doubleheader against Cook County, at Duluth's renovated Wade Stadium. The first pitch is at 4:30 p.m.
Friday, June 5, 2015
Moose Lake sweeps Ely
A late rally gave visiting Moose Lake a second-game victory and a sweep of Ely's season-opening American Legion baseball doubleheader Friday night at Veterans Memorial Field.
Chris Carlson's bases-clearing double tied the game in the sixth, and the winning run scored in the eighth inning on a passed ball as the visitors pulled off a 7-6 victory.
Brad Fossum went five-for-five in the opener and Rex Janke limited Post 248 to four hits in a 12-2, first-game decision.
The contest of the day was the nightcap, as Alex Marafiot's two-run single capped a three-run top of the sixth and put Ely up 6-3. Ely was the visiting team in the second game of the Eighth District Division II league twinbill.
But Post 248's lead was short-lived as Moose Lake came back with three runs in its half of the frame, all on Carlson's key blow.
The winners pushed across a run in the eighth against losing pitcher Spencer Gaulke, who came on in relief of starter Patrick Huisman, who gave up nine hits in six frames and allowed three earned runs.
Huisman and Gaulke had two hits each for Ely, as did Tayler Banks. Brody Skala ripped a run-scoring double.
In the opening game, Moose Lake scored nine runs in the last three frames, pulling away after Ely trimmed the lead to 3-2.
Fossum stoked the winners' offense, and Moose Lake also capitalized on three Ely errors. Losing pitcher Will Gustafson struck out five in five innings of work, and both Willis and Gaulke had two hits each for Post 248.
Ely returns to action Wednesday, at home, against Two Harbors.
Chris Carlson's bases-clearing double tied the game in the sixth, and the winning run scored in the eighth inning on a passed ball as the visitors pulled off a 7-6 victory.
Brad Fossum went five-for-five in the opener and Rex Janke limited Post 248 to four hits in a 12-2, first-game decision.
The contest of the day was the nightcap, as Alex Marafiot's two-run single capped a three-run top of the sixth and put Ely up 6-3. Ely was the visiting team in the second game of the Eighth District Division II league twinbill.
But Post 248's lead was short-lived as Moose Lake came back with three runs in its half of the frame, all on Carlson's key blow.
The winners pushed across a run in the eighth against losing pitcher Spencer Gaulke, who came on in relief of starter Patrick Huisman, who gave up nine hits in six frames and allowed three earned runs.
Huisman and Gaulke had two hits each for Ely, as did Tayler Banks. Brody Skala ripped a run-scoring double.
In the opening game, Moose Lake scored nine runs in the last three frames, pulling away after Ely trimmed the lead to 3-2.
Fossum stoked the winners' offense, and Moose Lake also capitalized on three Ely errors. Losing pitcher Will Gustafson struck out five in five innings of work, and both Willis and Gaulke had two hits each for Post 248.
Ely returns to action Wednesday, at home, against Two Harbors.
Thursday, June 4, 2015
VFW Tourney starts Friday in Ely
Ely's American Legion baseball opener marks just the start of a busy weekend at Veterans Memorial Field.
Following Post 248's season-opening twinbill with Moose Lake Friday, play begins that night in the seven-team Taste of Ely VFW Classic.
Host Ely takes on Thunder Bay under the lights at 8 p.m., setting the stage for two full days of action Saturday and Sunday.
The schedule includes:
Saturday - at Ely
10:00 a.m. - Virginia vs. Greenway
12:30 p.m. - Ely vs. Grand Rapids Orange
3:00 p.m. - Edina vs. Thunder Bay
5:30 p.m.- West Duluth vs. Thunder Bay
8:00 p.m. - Ely vs. Edina
Saturday - at Soudan
1:30 p.m. - Greenway vs. West Duluth
4:00 p.m. - Virginia vs. Grand Rapids Orange
Sunday - at Ely
10:00 a.m. - Edina vs. Grand Rapids Orange
12:15 p.m. - West Duluth vs. Virginia
2:30 p.m. - West Duluth vs. Grand Rapids Orange
4:45 p.m - Ely vs. Greenway
Sunday - at Soudan
11:00 a.m. - Thunder Bay vs. Greenway
3:30 p.m. - Virginia vs. Edina
Following Post 248's season-opening twinbill with Moose Lake Friday, play begins that night in the seven-team Taste of Ely VFW Classic.
Host Ely takes on Thunder Bay under the lights at 8 p.m., setting the stage for two full days of action Saturday and Sunday.
The schedule includes:
Saturday - at Ely
10:00 a.m. - Virginia vs. Greenway
12:30 p.m. - Ely vs. Grand Rapids Orange
3:00 p.m. - Edina vs. Thunder Bay
5:30 p.m.- West Duluth vs. Thunder Bay
8:00 p.m. - Ely vs. Edina
Saturday - at Soudan
1:30 p.m. - Greenway vs. West Duluth
4:00 p.m. - Virginia vs. Grand Rapids Orange
Sunday - at Ely
10:00 a.m. - Edina vs. Grand Rapids Orange
12:15 p.m. - West Duluth vs. Virginia
2:30 p.m. - West Duluth vs. Grand Rapids Orange
4:45 p.m - Ely vs. Greenway
Sunday - at Soudan
11:00 a.m. - Thunder Bay vs. Greenway
3:30 p.m. - Virginia vs. Edina
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Season opener moved up, set for Friday at Veterans Memorial Field
Ely's 2015 American Legion baseball season will start a bit earlier than first anticipated.
Post 248 will host Moose Lake in a doubleheader starting at 4 p.m. Friday at Veterans Memorial Field, launching another season of summer baseball in Ely.
The twinbill was finalized Tuesday after Moose Lake's scheduled trip to Taconite was postponed.
Ely, which went 20-12 and finished third in the Eighth District Division II playoffs a year ago, is counting on a mix of returning and new talent in a bid to contend in the district. College freshman Will Gustafson, the likely opening game starter, heads the pitching staff after winning four games and striking out a batter per inning last year.
Junior Patrick Huisman is also back after going 4-0 with a 2.03 earned run average last year and driving in a team-high 24 runs. Other top returning hitters include second baseman Elliot Omerza (.333), left fielder Cole Kellogg (.308), centerfielder Jeff Willis (.292) and outfielder/first baseman Spencer Gaulke (.290). Ely is also likely to get a boost in the middle of its lineup from freshman catcher Gage Merhar, who earned All-Arrowhead Conference status in high school and hit over .450 this spring.
The doubleheader kicks off a better than 25-game regular season schedule for Post 248, which includes two upcoming home tournaments, the eight-team DQ Grill and Chill Classic (June 19-21) and the 12-team Sir G's Midsummer Classic (July 10-12).
Friday's games also lead up to the first tournament of the year at the ballpark, the seven-team Taste of Ely VFW Classic. Ely takes on Thunder Bay at 8 p.m. Friday to open an event that runs through Sunday afternoon.
Post 248 will host Moose Lake in a doubleheader starting at 4 p.m. Friday at Veterans Memorial Field, launching another season of summer baseball in Ely.
The twinbill was finalized Tuesday after Moose Lake's scheduled trip to Taconite was postponed.
Ely, which went 20-12 and finished third in the Eighth District Division II playoffs a year ago, is counting on a mix of returning and new talent in a bid to contend in the district. College freshman Will Gustafson, the likely opening game starter, heads the pitching staff after winning four games and striking out a batter per inning last year.
Junior Patrick Huisman is also back after going 4-0 with a 2.03 earned run average last year and driving in a team-high 24 runs. Other top returning hitters include second baseman Elliot Omerza (.333), left fielder Cole Kellogg (.308), centerfielder Jeff Willis (.292) and outfielder/first baseman Spencer Gaulke (.290). Ely is also likely to get a boost in the middle of its lineup from freshman catcher Gage Merhar, who earned All-Arrowhead Conference status in high school and hit over .450 this spring.
The doubleheader kicks off a better than 25-game regular season schedule for Post 248, which includes two upcoming home tournaments, the eight-team DQ Grill and Chill Classic (June 19-21) and the 12-team Sir G's Midsummer Classic (July 10-12).
Friday's games also lead up to the first tournament of the year at the ballpark, the seven-team Taste of Ely VFW Classic. Ely takes on Thunder Bay at 8 p.m. Friday to open an event that runs through Sunday afternoon.
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