The Crookston American Legion Post 20 Baseball team struggled and committed nine errors in a 20-4 loss to Excelsior Legion Senior 2 Post 259 and committed eight more errors in a 14-8 loss to the Fargo Jets at the Essentia Health Fargo Legion Baseball tournament at Jack Williams Stadium in Fargo.
FIRST INNING-
The game couldn’t have started any worse for Crookston as the first two batters reached on an error. The next two batters singled to score two runs. The next batter tripled to score two more runs for a 4-0 lead. Another single scored another run before the next batter struck out for the first out of the inning. A run scored on a passed ball for a 6-0 lead, and the next two batters were retired.
Crookston answered in the bottom of the inning with a Matt Contreras triple to the right-center field gap. Blake Melsa grounded out, and Contreras scored to get Crookston within a 6-1 deficit.
SECOND INNING-
Excelsior’s lead-off batter walked, stole second, and stole third base before scoring on an error on the catcher for a 7-1 lead. The next batter struck out before a pair of singles. The next batter grounded out for the third out of the inning.
Crookston answered in the bottom of the inning when a pitch hit Isaiah Donarski, and Tarek Siegle singled. With runners at the corners, Siegle stole second base before Greyson Ecker grounded out, but a run scored. Lucas Perala walked before Contreras singled to right field to score a run to bring Post 20 within a 7-3 deficit.
THIRD INNING –
Excelsior had another good start to the inning when the first two batters were hit by a pitch and walked. The next batter singled to load the bases before a flyout to score a run for an 8-3 lead. The next batter hit into a double play on a nice play by Crookston second baseman Cody Demarais and shortstop Matt Contreras to end the inning.
Crookston was retired in 1-2-3 fashion with a pair of line outs and a strikeout.
FOURTH INNING-
Excelsior added two more runs in the fourth inning with a single and a run scored on a ground out when the lead runner tried to go to third, and the Crookston throw was off the mark, and the runner scored on the error. The next batter blasted a line drive over the left field fence for a 10-3 lead. The next two batters grounded out to end the half-inning.
Crookston’s Donarski led off the bottom of the inning with a walk. After a strikeout, Ecker doubled. The next batter hit into a fielder’s choice before Crookston scored a run on an error to get within a 10-4 deficit.
FIFTH INNING-
Excelsior started off the inning with a single and a ground out. The baserunner on second base took off on a pitch, and the batter hit a smash down the third base line, and a run scored for an 11-4 lead. A runner was caught stealing before a fly out and the half inning was over.
Crookston’s Blake Melsa led off with a walk before back-to-back fly outs. The next batter struck out.
SIXTH INNING
Crookston’s wheels fell off in the sixth inning as Excelsior’s leadoff batter reached on an error before the next batter walked. The next two batters struck out. A single scored a run, and the next batter walked to load the bases. Another run scored on the seventh Crookston error of the game for a 13-4 Excelsior lead. A walk loaded the bases again. The next batter hit a line drive up the middle, and Crookston’s Contreras made a great diving stop after it hit the ground, but the first baseman wasn’t covering at first base, and everyone was safe, and another run scored. The next batter singled to score another run for a 15-4 lead. Crookston made a pitching change with two outs. A hit batter scored a run, an error allowed three runs to score and another error allowed another run to score for a 20-4 lead.
A pitch hit Crookston’s Tony Elbinger to lead off the inning before the next three batters were retired and teh game was over and Excelsior won the game 20-4.
Crookston drops to 11-12 on the year and will take on the Fargo Jets at 7:30 p.m.Saturday evening. Excelsior Legion 2 Post 259 drops improves to 10-15 on the year.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | R | H | E | |
| Excelsior | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 20 | 15 | 2 |
| Crookston | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 9 |
OFFENSIVE LEADERS –
Crookston –
Matt Contreras – 2 for 3, rbi, run
Gavyn Hlucny – 1 for 3
Tarek Siegle – 1 for 3, run
Greyson Ecker – 1 for 3, rbi
Excelsior-
D. Tannuzzo – 3 for 4, 4 runs, 3 rbi, home run, triple
J. Luing – 3 for 4, 4 runs, 3 rbi, walk
P. Rickman – 2 for 3, 2 runs, rbi, walk
I. Godfrey – 2 for 4, 3 runs, 2 rbi.
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB/HBP | K |
| Blake Melsa-Crox | 1.0 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Isaiah Donarski-Crox | 4.2 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Tony Elbinger-Crox | 0.1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| C. Johnson-Exc | 6.0 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 6 |
Game 2 – vs Fargo Jets
FIRST INNING-
Crookston’s Matt Contreras was hit by a pitch with one out. The next two batters were retired.
Fargo’s first three batters reached with a single, double, and another single to score two runs for a 2-0 lead. The next batter was hit by a pitch before a ground out that scored another run, and Fargo led 3-0.
The next batter singled to score a run for a 4-0 lead through one inning of play.
SECOND INNING-
Crookston’s Blake Melsa had a solid at-bat. The first two pitches were strikes before two balls. On the next pitch, he singled and advanced to second base on an error. Nolan Cassavant reached on an error, and a run scored on a Tony Elbinger ground out to bring Crookston within a 4-1 deficit. Carter Fee hustled out an infield single, and they had runners at the corners with one out. Lucas Miller lined a shot up the middle to knock in another run. The next two batters were retired.
Fargo’s leadoff batter grounded out before an error allowed the next batter to reach. A double scored a run, and Fargo led 5-2. The next Fargo batter singled to score another run. Crookston had the runner at first base picked off, but the throw to first base was off the mark and the runner advanced to third on the error. A single scored another run, and another Crookston error allowed Fargo to score a run for a 7-2 lead. The next two batters were retired.
THIRD INNING –
Teagen Lubinski started the third inning with a single to left field, Hlucny singled and Melsa walked to load the bases. Cassavant flew out to center field to score a run on a sacrifice fly to bring Crookston within a 7-3 deficit. Tony Elbinger reached on an error and bases were loaded. The next batter struck out for the second out of the inning. Lucas Miller singled up the middle into centerfield for the second straight at bat to score two runs to get Crookston within a 7-5 deficit. The next batter grounded out.
Fargo’s leadoff batter lined out before back-to-back walks. The next batter struck out before a single scored a run for an 8-5 lead. The next batter popped out and the inning was over.
FOURTH INNING-
Crookston’s lead-off batter lined out on a well-hit ball to right field before Teagen Lubinski singled to left field. The next batter popped out. Melsa ripped a hit to left field to score a run and Crookston trailed 8-6. The next batter grounded out.
Fargo started the bottom of the inning with a walk. The next batter singled before a ground out and runners were at second and third base with one out. A run scored on a wild pitch to give Fargo a 9-6 lead. Another run scored on a single for a 10-6 lead. The next two batters were retired.
FIFTH INNING-
Crookston’s leadoff batter struck out before Fee was hit by a pitch and Miller walked. Lucas Perala hit a groundball to second base and Fargo got the out at second base. Crookston had runners at the corners and Perala stole second base and the throw went into centerfield to allow a run to score to get within a 10-7 deficit. The next batter popped out.
Fargo had a one-out single. The next batter singled, but the lead runner was out at second base. The next batter struck out.
SIXTH INNING
Crookston’s Lubinski singled to start the inning. The next batter flew out before Melsa singled to score a run to bring Crookston within a 10-8 deficit.The next two batters were retired.
Fargo took advantage of Crookston’s seventh and eighth error of the game mixed with a hit batter and a walk to take a 14-8 lead.
SEVENTH INNING
Crookston’s Fee singled and was caught stealing at second base. The next two batters were retired and Fargo won 14-8.
Crookston drops to 11-13 on the year and will play Wayzata at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday in Kindred.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
| Crookston | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 10 | 8 |
| Fargo | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | – | 14 | 13 | 6 |
OFFENSIVE LEADERS-
Crookston –
Blake Melsa – 3 for 3, 2 rbi, 2 run, walk
Teagen Lubinski – 3 for 4, 3 runs
Carter Fee – 3 for 3, 2 rbi, run
Fargo Jets-
F. Bergseth – 3 for 4, 3 rbi, 2 runs, walk
E. Emineth – 3 for 5, 3 runs, 2 rbi
T. Barnacle – 2 for 3, 2 runs, rbi, walk
A. Perreault – 2 for 5, run, rbi
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB/HBP | K |
| Gavyn Hlucny – Crox | 5.2 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 4 | 5 |
| Greyson Ecker-Crox | 0.1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Colby Ebeling- Far | 2.1 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| A. Perreault-Far | 1.2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| E. Emineth-Far | 2.0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| T. Barnacle-Far | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
