The Crookston American Legion Baseball had two important District games on Monday night, but Win-E-Mac came away with two big wins 2-1 in game one and 13-8 in game two in a doubleheader at Jim Karn Field in Crookston.
Game 1
FIRST INNING-
Win-E-Mac’s leadoff batter Nick Schow singled to start the game before stealing second base. After a strikeout, Braylen Hamre reached on an error that allowed Schow to reach third base. With runners at the corners, Schow scored on a balk for a 1-0 lead. Nathanial Spry was hit by a pitch, and Charles Carlson reached on an error to load the bases. After a strikeout, Carsen Boyd walked to score a run for a 2-0 lead.
Crookston responded in the bottom of the inning when Dexter Janek singled and Matt Contreras was hit by a pitch. Davin Janek struck out but reached on a wild pitch. A run scored on a wild pitch, and Crookston trailed 2-1.
SECOND INNING-
Both pitchers settled in to start the second inning as Win-E-Mac was retired in 1-2-3 fashion.
Crookston was retired in 1-2-3 fashion with three strikeouts and the inning was a sign of things to come the rest of the game.
THIRD INNING –
The first two Win-E-Mac batters were retired before Carlson walked, and Kale Smeby was hit by a pitch. The next batter struck out, and the threat was over.
Crookston was retired in 1-2-3 fashion with two groundouts and a strikeout.
FOURTH INNING-
The first Win-E-Mac batter was hit by a pitch before the next batter hit into a double play. Schow singled before the next batter grounded out.
Crookston was retired in 1-2-3 fashion, with a pop out and two strikeouts as Hamre continued his dominance over the Crookston batters.
FIFTH INNING-
Hamre led off the fifth inning by getting hit by a pitch. The next two batters were retired when Crookston brought in Isaiah Donarski to pitch. Isaiah got the first batter he faced to fly out to second base to end the half-inning.
Crookston was retired in 1-2-3 fashion with two more strikeouts.
SIXTH INNING-
The first Win-E-Mac batter struck out before Hayden Johnson reached on an error. The next batter hit a groundball up the middle, and Greyson Ecker dove to knock the ball to second baseman Matt Contreras, who was standing on second base, and threw it over to first base for a double play to get out of the half inning.
Crookston was retired in 1-2-3 fashion with a strikeout and two groundouts.
SEVENTH INNING
Win-E-Mac’s Strom reached on a one-out error before the next two batters were retired.
Crookston was retired in 1-2-3 fashion with all three batters striking out. Win-E-Mac’s Hamre struck out 15 and retired the last 19 Crookston batters he faced.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
| WEM | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Crookston | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
OFFENSIVE LEADERS –
Crookston –
Dexter Janek – 1 for 3, run
Win-E-Mac –
Nick Schow – 2 for 4, run, stolen base
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB/HB | K |
| Matt Contreras-Crox | 4.2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 5 |
| Isaiah Donarski-Crox | 2.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Braylen Hamre-WEM | 7.0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 15 |
Game 2
FIRST INNING
Win-E-Mac had a great start to the game. After the leadoff batter grounded out, Strom reached on an error, Hamre walked, and Spry singled to score two runs as the Crookston right fielder struggled to get the ball in. Carlson walked before Smeby doubled in two more runs for a 4-0 lead. Boyd singled, and Rian Berg walked before Grady Breitbach reached on an error that allowed a run to score for a 5-0 lead.
Crookston answered in the bottom of the inning as Parker Kelly reached on an error and Dexter Janek singled. Matt Contreras followed with a single to score a run, and Crookston trailed 5-1.
SECOND INNING
Win-E-Mac countered in the second inning with walks to Hamre and Spry before Crookston got an out at third base on a fielder’s choice. Kale Smeby singled to score two runs for a 7-1 lead.
Crookston’s Nolan Cassavant was hit by a pitch to start the bottom of the inning. Cassavant stole second base and advanced to third base on a wild pitch before scoring on a Donarski groundout to get within a 7-2 deficit.
THIRD INNING –
Win-E-Mac answered in the top of the inning as Schow singled with one out before stealing second base. Strom doubled to score a run for an 8-2 lead. After an out, the next two batters walked and a run scored on an error for a 9-2 lead.
Crookston countered in a big way in the bottom of the inning as Kelly led off with a walk, Dexter Janek was hit by a pitch, and Contreras singled to score a run. Ecker was hit by a pitch before Davin Janek doubled to center field to score two runs. After a Win-E-Mac pitching change, Cassavant flew out to centerfield to score another run. The fifth Crookston run of the inning scored on a wild pitch, and Win-E-Mac’s lead was 9-7 after three innings.
FOURTH INNING-
Win-E-Mac’s Boys reached on an error and moved over to third base on a pair of wild pitches. The next three batters were retired on two strikeouts and a lineout.
Crookston’s Kelly led off the bottom of the inning with a single, Dexter Janek was hit by a pitch, and Matt Contreras singled to load the bases. Ecker hit a fly ball down the left field line that was caught, but a run scored to bring Crookston within a 9-8 deficit.
FIFTH INNING-
Win-E-Mac was retired in a 1-2-3 fashion with two groundouts and a popout.
Crookston’s Isaiah Donarski singled with one out, but the next two batters were retired.
SIXTH INNING-
Win-E-Mac’s Smeby reached on an error with one out. After a strikeout, Crookston made a pitching change, and the next two batters walked to load the bases before the next batter was hit by a pitch to score a run for a 10-8 Win-E-Mac lead.
Crookston was retired in 1-2-3 fashion with a strikeout and two flyouts to left field.
SEVENTH INNING
Win-E-Mac added three big insurance runs in the top of the inning with a hit batter, a single, and a walk. One run scored on a walk, and two runs scored on sacrifices for a 13-8 lead.
Crookston looked like they were mounting a comeback in the bottom of the inning when Davin Janek doubled down the right field line, and Christian Cassavant walked with one out. The next batter flew out to center field, and the Crookston runner tagged up at third base and tried to score. The Crookston runner didn’t slide, almost like he thought there wasn’t going to be a play, and was tagged out after a beautiful throw from centerfield, and the Crookston runner was tagged out for a double play to end the game, and Win-E-Mac won 13-8.
Crookston drops to 7-13 on the year, and is 5-3 in the Tony Sipe South. Win-E-Mac improves to 4-5 in the Tony Sipe South. Crookston will take on East Grand Forks in a doubleheader on Tuesday, but the next important games for Crookston will be a doubleheader against Fosston on Friday, which will be the final two games of Tony Sipe play and will have an impact on playoff seeding for both teams.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
| WEM | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 7 | 2 |
| Crookston | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 5 |
OFFENSIVE LEADERS –
Crookston –
Matt Contreras – 3 for 4, 2 rbi, run
Davin Janek – 2 for 4, 2 rbi, run
Win-E-Mac –
Nathanial Spry – 2 for 3, 3 runs, 2 rbi
Kale Smeby – 2 for 5, 5 rbi, 2 runs
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB/HB | K |
| Isaiah Donarski-Crox | 0.1 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Parker Kelly-Crox | 5.1 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Nolan Cassavant-Crox | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Ethan Lanctot-Crox | 1.0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Rian Bergh-WEM | 3.0 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| Nathanial Spry-WEM | 5.0 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
