The Crookston American Legion Post 20 Baseball team responded to a 4-2 loss in game one with a 14-3 win in game two, splitting a dounbleheader with Ada Legion Post 26 on Tuesday afternoon.
FIRST INNING-
After two quick outs to start the game, Greyson Ecker and Davin Janek each singled to keep the inning alive. However, Casper Kritzbarger would get a strikeout to end the frame.
Matt Contreras retired Ada in order in the bottom of the inning on a groundout and two strikeouts.
SECOND INNING-
The second inning for Crookston was a carbon copy of the first inning; after two quick outs, Aiden DeLage and Tyson Siegle would single to keep the inning alive, but a flyout would end the threat.
Ada got their first hit in the bottom of the inning with a one-out single, but Contreras then got back-to-back strikeouts to keep the game scoreless.
THIRD INNING –
In the third, Contreras was hit by a pitch to start the inning, but the next three batters were retired in order.
After back-to-back strikeouts to start the inning, marking four in a row for Contreras, Ada finally broke through. After a two-out single, a stolen base put a runner in scoring position for Ames Fassino, who drove him in with a single to make it 1-0. Fassino then reached third on an error before scoring on a balk, giving Ada a 2-0 lead at the end of the inning.
FOURTH INNING-
Crookston was set down in order in the fourth inning on a flyout and two strikeouts.
After an error and a one-out walk, head coach Jason Cassavant made a pitching change for Greyson Ecker, and he got a groundout and a strikeout to end the frame.
FIFTH INNING-
In the fifth inning, Crookston began to threaten, as an error and a Contreras single put two in scoring position with one away. Ecker was able to single in a run to make it 2-1, and then with two outs and runners on the corners, Crookston attempted a delayed steal. Ecker got in a rundown to try and get Contreras home, and the umpires ruled that Contreras scored before Ecker was tagged out, so the game was tied at two headed to the bottom of the fifth.
Ada clearly was upset about losing the lead, because it did not take them long to get it back. Kritzbarger and Fassino reached base, both reached scoring position on a passed ball, and then both scored on a single, giving Ada a 4-2 lead. Ecker was then able to settle down, only allowing one more baserunner before ending the inning.
SIXTH INNING-
To start the sixth inning, Parker Kelly led off with a single, but was then picked off at first base. Crookston were able to get more baserunners on with a hit by pitch and a walk, but Kritzbarger was able to work his way out of the inning with no damage.
Isaiah Donarski came in to pitch the bottom of the sixth for Crookston, and besides a one-out walk, he was able to retire Ada with relative ease.
SEVENTH INNING-
Contreras got a one-out single in the seventh, but that was all they could muster, and Ada was able to hang on for a 4-2 victory in game one.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
| Crookston | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 2 |
| Ada | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | X | 4 | 5 | 2 |
OFFENSIVE LEADERS –
Crookston –
Greyson Ecker – 2 for 4, RBI
Matt Contreras – 2 for 3, HBP, R
Aiden DeLage – 1 for 2, BB
Ada –
Ames Fassino – 2 for 4, RBI, 2 R
Casper Kritzbarger – 1 for 3, BB, 2 R
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB/HBP | K |
| Matt Contreras-Crox | 3.1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
| Greyson Ecker – Crox | 1.2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Isaiah Donarski – Crox | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Casper Kritzberger-Ada | 7 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
Game 2
FIRST INNING-
To start game two, Crookston came out swinging. Matt Contreras doubled, an error put two on, and Davin Janek then singled in a run to make it 1-0. Janek was picked off at first, but Parker Kelly was able to drive in the remaining baserunner to give Crookston a 2-0 lead. Then, another error scored Kelly, making it 3-0 Crookston before a strikeout ended the inning.
In the bottom of the first, Isaiah Donarski got in a bit of trouble with a single and a walk, but was able to induce a strikeout and a groundout to avoid any damage.
SECOND INNING-
Ethan Lanctot started the second inning with a walk, and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. After an error put runners on the corners, Greyson Ecker delivered a two-out, two-run double to give Crookston a 5-0 lead at the end of the frame.
Ada got two one-out walks in the bottom of the inning, but Donarski was able to pick off a runner and get a strikeout to quickly quash the threat.
THIRD INNING-
In the third, back-to-back singles to start the inning put runners on the corners for Crookston, and a wild pitch quickly made it 6-0. The next three batters would be set down in order.
In the bottom of the inning, Ada started to get something going. A walk and a single started the inning, then Crookston committed an error trying to turn a double play, causing the lead runner to score to make it 6-1. After a flyout, Crookston made another error to cut the lead to 6-2, and then Peyton Eggen drove in another run, officially cutting the lead in half at 6-3 before the inning came to an end.
FOURTH INNING-
After a popout started the fourth inning, Crookston got three straight singles before Parker Kelly doubled in two more runs, boosting Crookston’s lead to 8-3. A hit by pitch loaded the bases again, but unfortunately the bags would be left loaded, as consecutive strikeouts ended the inning.
Ada was retired in order in the fourth on two groundouts and a strikeout.
FIFTH INNING-
Crookston blew the game wide open in the top of the fifth. Six runs came across; three of them from a double from Ecker, giving him 5 RBIs. One was driven in by Davin Janek and the other two from Ethan Lanctot, giving Crookston a commanding 14-3 advantage.
Ada could only muster a two-out walk in the bottom of the inning, giving Crookston a dominant 14-3 victory to split the doubleheader.
Crookston is now 5-4 after the doubleheader.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | R | H | E | |
| Crookston | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 14 | 15 | 3 |
| Ada | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
Crookston–
Parker Kelly – 3 for 3, 2B, 3 RBI, 3 R
Greyson Ecker – 3 for 4, 2B, 5 RBI, 2 R
Davin Janek – 3 for 4, 2 RBI
Ada –
Mitch Finney – 1 for 3
Peyton Eggen – 1 for 2, RBI, BB
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB/HBP | K |
| Isaiah Donarski – Crox | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 3 |
| Davin Janek-Crox | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Connor Syverson-Ada | 5 | 15 | 14 | 8 | 2 | 5 |
