An aggressive Chatfield team rode a strong start and the pitching of Tristin Aguiar to an 8-3 victory over Ely in opening round action Friday night in the Sir G's Midsummer Classic.
Chatfield scored single runs in the first and second frames, including one on a solo homer by Ben Ihrke, and broke the game open with a four-run third inning to end Ely's win streak at four.
Aguiar appeared to get stronger as the game progressed, finishing with a complete-game seven-hitter and eight strikeouts.
Trailing 6-1, Ely scored twice in the third inning and put runners at the corners, but Aguiar escaped further trouble and only allowed one hit the rest of the way.
Chatfield, meanwhile, got to Ely starter Elliot Omerza early and scored four runs on four hits in the third. The damage would have been even more severe if not for a diving stop by third baseman Tayler Banks, which resulted in a double play.
Nick Maki had three hits for the winners while Spencer Mandt roped two doubles.
Ely's Jeff Willis had three hits and Huisman added two.
Other Friday scores in the Sir G's Classic included:
• Duluth Lakeview 13, Hermantown 5;
• Virginia 4, Int. Falls 2;
• Taconite 14, Hermantown 6;
• Stephen-Argyle 8, Proctor 1;
• Cloquet 6, Int. Falls 5;
• Duluth Lakeview 17, Taconite 5.
Action continues Saturday with eight more games, including six in Ely and two at Soudan. Ely meets Hermantown at 1 p.m. and Taconite at 7:45.
Friday, July 10, 2015
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
Ely holds off Esko for fourth straight win
A big first inning and a pair of clutch hits in the sixth helped Ely's American Legion baseball team to its fourth straight win.
Post 248 scored six times in the first and led 9-2 after four innings, but needed two key insurance runs in the sixth to hold off Esko 11-10 at Veterans Memorial Field.
Esko (5-2) closed a seven-run gap to one by scoring five times in the fifth inning and adding another in the sixth, but run-scoring hits by Andy Krunkkala and Jeff Willis proved to be pivotal in the bottom of the frame.
In the seventh, Esko scored two unearned runs against reliever Kyle Durbin and had the tying and go-ahead runs aboard in scoring position, but the righthander coaxed a groundout to end the game.
Starter Pat Huisman, who earned his fifth win of the summer, cruised through four innings but ran into control problems in the fifth, bringing Durbin on in relief.
Ely gave Huisman a cushion by jolting out to a 6-0 lead in the first, sending 10 men to the plate and capitalizing on four walks and two errors.
Willis and Krunkkala had two hits apiece for the winners, while senior second baseman reached base four times and scored three runs, drawing three walks and adding a single.
Esko pitchers issued nine walks and the visitors made five errors in the sloppy Eighth District Division II contest, while Ely committed three errors and its pitchers walked eight batters.
After two nights off, Post 248 returns to action Friday night with an 8 p.m. game against Chatfield, closing out first-round, opening-day action in the Sir G's Midsummer Classic.
Post 248 scored six times in the first and led 9-2 after four innings, but needed two key insurance runs in the sixth to hold off Esko 11-10 at Veterans Memorial Field.
Esko (5-2) closed a seven-run gap to one by scoring five times in the fifth inning and adding another in the sixth, but run-scoring hits by Andy Krunkkala and Jeff Willis proved to be pivotal in the bottom of the frame.
In the seventh, Esko scored two unearned runs against reliever Kyle Durbin and had the tying and go-ahead runs aboard in scoring position, but the righthander coaxed a groundout to end the game.
Starter Pat Huisman, who earned his fifth win of the summer, cruised through four innings but ran into control problems in the fifth, bringing Durbin on in relief.
Ely gave Huisman a cushion by jolting out to a 6-0 lead in the first, sending 10 men to the plate and capitalizing on four walks and two errors.
Willis and Krunkkala had two hits apiece for the winners, while senior second baseman reached base four times and scored three runs, drawing three walks and adding a single.
Esko pitchers issued nine walks and the visitors made five errors in the sloppy Eighth District Division II contest, while Ely committed three errors and its pitchers walked eight batters.
After two nights off, Post 248 returns to action Friday night with an 8 p.m. game against Chatfield, closing out first-round, opening-day action in the Sir G's Midsummer Classic.
Sunday, July 5, 2015
Sir G's Tournament includes record 11 teams
The Sir G's Midsummer Classic, one of northern Minnesota's largest American Legion baseball tournaments, starts Friday at Ely's Veterans Memorial Field with additional games at nearby Soudan.
A tournament-record 11 teams will take part in this year's event, and for the first time in the event's 15-year history it will include a "true" championship game.
The Sir G's entrants will be divided into two divisions, one featuring five teams and the other with six. The two division champions will square off for the tournament title on Sunday, July 12 at 3:45 p.m.
Host Ely, winners of three straight, will be joined by Duluth Lakeview, Hermantown and first-time tournament entrants Chatfield and Watertown in the Red Division. The six-team Blue Division includes defending Eighth District Division II champion International Falls, first-time entrant Stephen-Argyle, as well as Cloquet, Proctor, Taconite and Virginia.
The action begins at 9 a.m. Friday with Virginia meeting Taconite, with Ely battling Chatfield at 8:15 p.m. in the final game of the day. Friday is also Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital Night at the ballpark, with all hospital employees admitted free and receiving a free ballpark dinner, courtesy of Ely-Bloomenson.
Saturday includes six games in Ely and three more at Soudan, with Sunday's schedule consisting of four games in Ely and two in Soudan.
The full schedule is below
A tournament-record 11 teams will take part in this year's event, and for the first time in the event's 15-year history it will include a "true" championship game.
The Sir G's entrants will be divided into two divisions, one featuring five teams and the other with six. The two division champions will square off for the tournament title on Sunday, July 12 at 3:45 p.m.
Host Ely, winners of three straight, will be joined by Duluth Lakeview, Hermantown and first-time tournament entrants Chatfield and Watertown in the Red Division. The six-team Blue Division includes defending Eighth District Division II champion International Falls, first-time entrant Stephen-Argyle, as well as Cloquet, Proctor, Taconite and Virginia.
The action begins at 9 a.m. Friday with Virginia meeting Taconite, with Ely battling Chatfield at 8:15 p.m. in the final game of the day. Friday is also Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital Night at the ballpark, with all hospital employees admitted free and receiving a free ballpark dinner, courtesy of Ely-Bloomenson.
Saturday includes six games in Ely and three more at Soudan, with Sunday's schedule consisting of four games in Ely and two in Soudan.
The full schedule is below
2015 Sir G's Pizza/Ely Legion Midsummer Classic
Friday July 10, Saturday July 11, Sunday July 12
at Ely and Soudan
Red Division Blue Division
Ely Proctor
Chatfield Stephen-Argyle
Watertown International Falls
Hermantown Taconite
Duluth Lakeview Cloquet
Virginia
Friday at Ely at Soudan
9:00 a.m. Virginia vs. Taconite
11:15 a.m. Duluth Lakeview vs. Hermantown
1:30 p.m. Watertown vs. Hermantown 2:00 p.m. - Int. Falls. vs. Taconite
3:45 p.m. Proctor vs. Stephen-Argyle 5:15 p.m.. Lakeview vs. Watertown
6:00 p.m. Cloquet vs. Int. Falls
8:15 p.m. Ely vs. Chatfield
Saturday at Ely at Soudan
8:30 a.m. Stephen-Argyle vs. Cloquet
10:45 a.m. Virginia vs. Proctor
1:00 p.m. Ely vs. Hermantown 11:45 - Cloquet vs. Taconite
3:15 p.m. Chatfield vs. Watertown 2:00 - Virginia vs. Stephen-Argyle
5:30 p.m. Dul. Lakeview vs. Chatfield 4:15 - Taconite vs. Proctor
7:45 p.m. Ely vs. Watertown
Sunday at Ely at Soudan
9:00 a.m. Int. Falls vs. Stephen-Argyle 9:30 Chatfield vs. Hermantown
11:15 a.m. Proctor vs. Int. Falls 11:45 Cloquet vs. VIrginia
1:30 p.m. Ely vs. Duluth Lakeview
3:45 p.m. CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
*** Ely will be the home team and occupy the third base dugout for all of its games.
Coin flip to determine home team in all other games.
*** Division champion and order of finish to be determined by record. In case of multiple
teams tying, the following criteria will be used:
1. Least runs allowed; 2. Most runs scored; 3. Draw numbers
*** Championship game will match the two division champions, with one exception.
If Red Division team has at least one loss and Blue Division has two teams at 4-0, the
two Blue Divison teams will meet for the tournament championship..
In an effort to keep games on schedule, we will adopt the following special tournament
rules: 1. 8-run rule after five innings; 2. Tie game will be called after nine innings;
3. On Friday-Saturday, no pregame infield will be allowed in Ely, except before the first
and last games.
Thursday, July 2, 2015
Omerza notches shutout as Ely downs Virginia for third straight win
A season-long search for a third starting pitcher may have ended Thursday at Virginia, where Ely's Elliot Omerza recorded his first career shutout.
The senior righthander fired a three-hitter and seemed to get stronger as the game progressed, striking out the side in the seventh as Ely slipped past Virginia 1-0 to gain its third straight win.
Consecutive hits by Gage Merhar, Patrick Huisman and Will Gustafson resulted in the game's only run in the top of the fifth inning, and Omerza made that lead hold up.
After escaping a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the third inning with the help of a double play, Omerza allowed only one hit the rest of the way.
He finished with a season-high eight strikeouts, including six in the final three frames, en route to his first pitching win of the summer.
Omerza was also backed up by a strong Ely defense, which overcame two errors and kept Virginia in check.
Post 248 struggled for much of the game against righthander Colton Herring, a junior from Cherry who has bolstered the Virginia pitching rotation. The 6-4 Herring held Ely without a hit until the fifth inning and finished with a four-hitter and six strikeouts.
Herring stranded two Ely runners in the fifth but couldn't escape trouble in the sixth, when Merhar's line drive down the right field line started the rally with two out. Huisman's single to right-center put runners at the corners, and Gustafson lined a Herring pitch right up the middle to end the stalemate.
Omerza stranded one Virginia runner in the sixth and closed the game with three consecutive strikeouts.
After a break for the Fourth of July holiday, Ely is back in action Monday with a district doubleheader at Cook County (4 p.m.).
The senior righthander fired a three-hitter and seemed to get stronger as the game progressed, striking out the side in the seventh as Ely slipped past Virginia 1-0 to gain its third straight win.
Consecutive hits by Gage Merhar, Patrick Huisman and Will Gustafson resulted in the game's only run in the top of the fifth inning, and Omerza made that lead hold up.
After escaping a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the third inning with the help of a double play, Omerza allowed only one hit the rest of the way.
He finished with a season-high eight strikeouts, including six in the final three frames, en route to his first pitching win of the summer.
Omerza was also backed up by a strong Ely defense, which overcame two errors and kept Virginia in check.
Post 248 struggled for much of the game against righthander Colton Herring, a junior from Cherry who has bolstered the Virginia pitching rotation. The 6-4 Herring held Ely without a hit until the fifth inning and finished with a four-hitter and six strikeouts.
Herring stranded two Ely runners in the fifth but couldn't escape trouble in the sixth, when Merhar's line drive down the right field line started the rally with two out. Huisman's single to right-center put runners at the corners, and Gustafson lined a Herring pitch right up the middle to end the stalemate.
Omerza stranded one Virginia runner in the sixth and closed the game with three consecutive strikeouts.
After a break for the Fourth of July holiday, Ely is back in action Monday with a district doubleheader at Cook County (4 p.m.).
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
Huisman blanks Two Harbors, Ely wins second straight
Thanks to another strong pitching performance and an errorless outing in the field, Ely's American Legion baseball team has its first winning streak of the summer.
Patrick Huisman blanked Two Harbors on four hits and never allowed a runner to reach second base in an 8-0 district road victory Wednesday night.
Huisman, who gained his fourth win of the summer, struck out six and walked just one batter while going the distance.
And after struggling against Two Harbors lefty Kyle Omtvedt early in the game, Ely broke through with a run in the top of the fourth and scored seven more times - on eight hits - over the last three innings.
Eliot Omerza reached on a fielder's choice, moved to second on a balk and scored on consecutive wild pitches as Ely got on the board and took a 1-0 lead.
A Kyle Durbin bunt single helped set the table in the fifth, when both Will Gustafson and Elliot Omerza lined run-scoring hits.
Pinch-hitter Cole Kellogg laced a run-scoring single in the sixth and Gustafson followed with a two-run single, and the rout was on. Spencer Gaulke doubled in a run in the seventh and pinch-hitter Nick Montana drove in another with a single.
Omerza, Gaulke, Patrick Huisman and Gustafson all finished with two hits for Post 248, which is back in action Thursday at Virginia.
Patrick Huisman blanked Two Harbors on four hits and never allowed a runner to reach second base in an 8-0 district road victory Wednesday night.
Huisman, who gained his fourth win of the summer, struck out six and walked just one batter while going the distance.
And after struggling against Two Harbors lefty Kyle Omtvedt early in the game, Ely broke through with a run in the top of the fourth and scored seven more times - on eight hits - over the last three innings.
Eliot Omerza reached on a fielder's choice, moved to second on a balk and scored on consecutive wild pitches as Ely got on the board and took a 1-0 lead.
A Kyle Durbin bunt single helped set the table in the fifth, when both Will Gustafson and Elliot Omerza lined run-scoring hits.
Pinch-hitter Cole Kellogg laced a run-scoring single in the sixth and Gustafson followed with a two-run single, and the rout was on. Spencer Gaulke doubled in a run in the seventh and pinch-hitter Nick Montana drove in another with a single.
Omerza, Gaulke, Patrick Huisman and Gustafson all finished with two hits for Post 248, which is back in action Thursday at Virginia.
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Timely hitting, Gustafson's gem, solid ‘D’ add up to win at Taconite
Ely's American Legion baseball team played flawless defense for the first time this summer, and the result was a convincing win Tuesday night at Marble.
College freshman Will Gustafson tossed a complete-game seven-hitter and Ely went without an error, while a four-run fourth-inning provided more than enough offense as Post 248 downed Taconite 7-1.
Gustafson, back after a weeklong trip to Cuba, gave up a first-inning run but settled in after that and avenged a loss to the same team just over two weeks ago.
Ely broke a one-all deadlock in the fourth by scoring four runs, all with two outs. The key blow was a two-run single by Patrick Huisman, who finished with three runs batted in.
Spencer Gaulke's sacrifice fly earlier in the frame put Ely ahead to stay, while Kyle Durbin also added a run-scoring hit during the frame.
Leadoff man Jeff Willis had two hits and scored two times for the winners, and Tayler Banks added two hits. Ely finished with 10 hits against losing pitcher Jeff Korpi, with all but one starter getting at least one hit.
Gustafson recorded six strikeouts and walked only two batters en route to his second win of the summer, and the righthander induced a double-play ball to escape trouble in the sixth inning.
The Ely defense, meanwhile, put together its best outing of the season and bounced back after committing six errors in a Saturday loss to Kenyon.
College freshman Will Gustafson tossed a complete-game seven-hitter and Ely went without an error, while a four-run fourth-inning provided more than enough offense as Post 248 downed Taconite 7-1.
Gustafson, back after a weeklong trip to Cuba, gave up a first-inning run but settled in after that and avenged a loss to the same team just over two weeks ago.
Ely broke a one-all deadlock in the fourth by scoring four runs, all with two outs. The key blow was a two-run single by Patrick Huisman, who finished with three runs batted in.
Spencer Gaulke's sacrifice fly earlier in the frame put Ely ahead to stay, while Kyle Durbin also added a run-scoring hit during the frame.
Leadoff man Jeff Willis had two hits and scored two times for the winners, and Tayler Banks added two hits. Ely finished with 10 hits against losing pitcher Jeff Korpi, with all but one starter getting at least one hit.
Gustafson recorded six strikeouts and walked only two batters en route to his second win of the summer, and the righthander induced a double-play ball to escape trouble in the sixth inning.
The Ely defense, meanwhile, put together its best outing of the season and bounced back after committing six errors in a Saturday loss to Kenyon.
Schedule set for second Ely Baseball Days celebration
For the second year in a row, the month of July augers a baseball celebration in Ely.
The second annual Ely Baseball Days begins July 7 and runs through July 19, and includes a pair of tournaments, numerous special events and a whopping 36 games at Veterans Memorial Field.
Both the 11-team Sir G's Midsummer Legion Classic and the North Subdistrict VFW Playoffs will be held during the event, and Ely's Legion Alumni Game, scrapped because of rain June 20, has been rescheduled for 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 18.
The event kicks off July 7 with a tripleheader, including a VFW twinbill with International Falls and a 7 p.m. Legion contest between Ely and Esko. It will be Little League night at the ballpark, with all Little League teams introduced during the Legion game and hot dogs on sale for $1.
Numerous other festivities are planned during Ely Baseball Days, including concession stand specials, an Ely baseball history display, the July 17 dedication of the new scoreboard with Minnesota Power Night at the ballpark, and a salute to veterans the same evening.
A tentative schedule is below
The second annual Ely Baseball Days begins July 7 and runs through July 19, and includes a pair of tournaments, numerous special events and a whopping 36 games at Veterans Memorial Field.
Both the 11-team Sir G's Midsummer Legion Classic and the North Subdistrict VFW Playoffs will be held during the event, and Ely's Legion Alumni Game, scrapped because of rain June 20, has been rescheduled for 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 18.
The event kicks off July 7 with a tripleheader, including a VFW twinbill with International Falls and a 7 p.m. Legion contest between Ely and Esko. It will be Little League night at the ballpark, with all Little League teams introduced during the Legion game and hot dogs on sale for $1.
Numerous other festivities are planned during Ely Baseball Days, including concession stand specials, an Ely baseball history display, the July 17 dedication of the new scoreboard with Minnesota Power Night at the ballpark, and a salute to veterans the same evening.
A tentative schedule is below
Schedule of Events
Tuesday July 7
Little League Night
All Hot Dogs $1
VFW - Int. Falls at Ely (2), 2 p.m.
Legion Game - Esko at Ely, 7 p.m.
Ely Little League Champions recognized before game,
2nd, 3rd and 4th place teams to be recognized during game
Wednesday July 8
Junior Three-way tripleheader
Ely vs. Cook County, 3 p.m., Virginia vs. Cook County, 5:15p.m.,
Ely vs Virginia, 7:30 p.m.
All Hot Dogs $1
Giveaway Night
Drawing for $100 Cash - People receive tickets with each concession purchase,
with drawing during 7:30 p.m. game (must be present)
Friday July 10
Sir G's Midsummer Legion Classic
Games at 9 and 11:15 a.m.., 1:30, 3:45, 6 and 8:15 p.m.
Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital Night/
Ely Baseball Days Recognition Ceremony, Ely VFW, Ely Juniors on field
Ely Baseball HIstory Display
Saturday July 11
Sir G's Midsummer Legion Classic
Games at 8:30, 10:45 a.m., 1, 3:15, 5:30 and 7:45 p.m.
Ely Baseball History Display
Sunday July 12
Sir G's Midsummer Legion Classic
Games at 9 an 11:15 a.m., 1:30 and 3:45 p.m.
Ely Baseball History Display
Teacher Appreciation Day (?????)
Wednesday July 15
VFW - Ely vs. Deer RIver, 5 p.m.; Legion - Ely vs. Deer River, 7:30 p.m.
Little League All Stars Night
$2 Burgers, $2 Root Beer Floats
Ely Baseball History Display
Friday July 17
Minnesota Power Night/Veterans Recognition
Legion vs. Virginia, 5 p.m.; Legion vs. Brookston, 7:30 p.m.
Minnesota Power Scoreboard Dedication before 7:30 p.m. game
Veterans on field before 7:30 game
Saturday July 18
North Subdistrict VFW Playoffs
Games at 10 a.m.. 12:15, 2:30 and 4:45 p.m.
Legion Alumni Game - 7 p.m.
Josh Mathson Memorial Presentation
Sunday July 19
North Subdistrict VFW Playoffs
Games at 11 a.m.., 1;30 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)