The Crookston Pirate Baseball team had a solo home run from Alex Longoria in the top of the first inning, but the Roseau Rams scored 11 unanswered to win 11-1 in five innings in the first round of the Section 8AA Baseball tournament played at Gilbertson Field in Roseau.
Crookston got things going with one out as Alex Longoria crushed the third pitch of the at-bat over the left-field fence for a solo home run and a 1-0 lead. The following two batters struck out, and Crookston led 1-0.
Roseau countered in the bottom of the inning with four runs. Isaac Wensloff led off with a single and stole second base. Alex Wensloff grounded out, and Isaac advanced to third base. The third Wensloff in a row to start the game for Roseau, Aaron, reached on an error and a run scored on the play to tie the game at 1-1. Cooper Flaig followed with a single, and Gavin Helgeland walked to load the bases. Noah Urness hit a fly ball to right field that was caught, but it was deep enough to score a run, and the Rams led 2-1. Helgeland scored on a wild pitch and another run scored on a Gavin Jensen single for a 4-1 lead.
Crookston’s Austin Trinkle doubled with two outs in the top of the second inning and was stranded at second.
Roseau added another run in the bottom of the second inning when Alex Wensloff was hit by a pitch with two outs. Aaron Wensloff walked, and Flaig singled to score a run for a 5-1 lead through two innings.
In the third inning, Roseau started the inning with a Noah Urness double, and the next three batters walked to score a run for a 6-1 lead. After a pitching change, the next batter walked to score a run, and the Rams led 7-1. A run scored on a fielder’s choice, and another run scored on an Aaron Wensloff ground out for a 9-1 lead through three innings of play.
Roseau added another run in the bottom of the fourth inning when Noah Urness hit a one-out single, stole second base, and scored on an error for a 10-1 lead.
Roseau’s Alex Wensloff started with a single in the bottom of the fifth inning. The next batter flew out to the catcher. The third batter of the inning, Flaig, reached on an error, and the Pirates elected to walk Helgeland to load the bases. The Pirates got an out at home, and bases were loaded with two outs. The next batter hit a ground ball to the shortstop, and the throw to first was off the mark, and the winning run scored to give Roseau an 11-1 victory in five innings.
Crookston ends the season with a 6-10 record and will say goodbye to six seniors. Justin Lindgren, Gunner Gunderson, Austin Trinkle, Ashton Larson, Cade DeLeon, and Brooks Butt.
Roseau improves to 13-5 on the year and will play Menagha on Thursday in Thief River Falls.
To listen to the postgame interview with Pirate Head Coach Scott Butt click below.
Audio Player| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | R | H | E | |
| Crookston | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 6 |
| Roseau | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 7 | 0 |
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
| Alex Longoria – Crox | 2.0 | 5 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 4 |
| Blake Melsa – Crox | 2.2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Brady DeMars – Ros | 5.0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
For Crookston –
Alex Longoria – 1 for 2, home run, rbi, run
Austin Trinkle – 1 for 2, double
Jackson Demarais – 1 for 2
George Widman – 1 for 3, double
For Roseau –
Noah Urness – 2 for 3, 2 runs, rbi, double
Cooper Flaig – 2 for 4, 2 runs, rbi
