Fertile Legion Baseball Post #238 had a great start to the game but couldn’t maintain it, falling to Roseau 7-3 in the first round, and bounced back and beat up on Crookston in a 17-2 victory in five innings to advance in the Northwest Substate North Division tournament at Jim Karn Field in Crookston.
FIRST INNING
Fertile was very aggressive to start the contest, getting singles from Steven Sather and Bryer Strem. Caleb Sather then came up and singled, scoring Steven Sather, and an error was also committed, putting Fertile up 2-0. After a walk, Roseau then turned a 6-4-3 double play, which was just what the doctor ordered to end the inning without any further damage.
Roseau was poised tom respond in the bpttom of the inning, getting back-to-back one-out singles. Then, just like Fertile, a single and an error scored a run, cutting the lead to 2-1. Roseau was then able to load the bases, but Drew Gullickson got a big strikeout to end the inning, maintaining Fertile’s lead.
SECOND INNING
In the second inning, Fertile got Brady Bjerk on to lead things off after an error. However, Roseau was able to turn their second double play of the game, followed by a flyout to right to end the inning.
Roseau got a one-out single in the bottom of the second inning, but a force play followed by a terrific diving catch from Steven Sather in centerfield ended the frame.
THIRD INNING
Fertile was set down in order in the top of the third inning on a groundout, a strikeout and a foulout.
Roseau led off the bottom of the third with a single, and after Gullickson recorded two outs, Abram Lundbohm came through, delivering a game-tying single to knot the score at two. Gullickson would then record his fourth strikeout to end the inning.
FOURTH INNING
.A leadoff walk opened the fourth inning for Fertile, but the very next pitch resulted in a caught stealing. With two outs, Roseau pitcher committed a two-base error, but then was able to get a strikeout to keep the game tied at two.
In the home half of the inning, Roseau continued getting runners on, and this time coming through. Tanner Paulson’s third hit of the day gave Roseau the lead, and this time with the bags full, Trey Mertens was able to cash in, driving in two to put Roseau up 5-2, before a comebacker to Gullickson ended the inning.
FIFTH INNING
Fertile got a leadoff single from Gullickson to start=t the fifth inning, but after a strikeout, Steven Sather lined into a 5-3 double play, the third one turned by Roseau, to quickly end the inning.
Roseau got a two-out single in the bottom of the fifth inning, but were otherwise set down quietly.
SIXTH INNING
Teegyn Johnson led off the top of the sixth inning with a single, but two flyouts and a groundout followed, ending thr inning with no runs on the board.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Roseau did their best to put the game out of reach, recording four straight hits and scoring two runs to go up 7-2. Steven Sather came in to stop the bleeding, and he did just that, striking out three batters in a row to leave the bases loaded and keep the score at 7-2.
SEVENTH INNING
Fertile didn’t go down without a fight in the top of the seventh inning, getting a couple singles before a sacrifice fly from Kane Oistad, but one run is all they would get, and Roseau was able to hold on for a 7-3 victory, advancing in the winner’s bracket.
Fertile will now play in the loser’s bracket against Crookston. Roseau advances in the winner’s bracket to play Middle River.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
Fertile | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 2 |
Roseau | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | X | 7 | 13 | 3 |
For Fertile-
Drew Gullickson – 2 for 3
Caleb Sather – 1 for 3, RBI, R
Easton Fredericksa – 1 for 3
For Roseau-
Tanner Paulsdon – 4 for 4, 2 2B, RBI
Trey Mertens – 2 for 4, 2 RBI
Heath Baugher – 2 for 4
|
Pitching
|
IP
|
H
|
R
|
ER
|
BB
|
K
|
| Trey Mertens-Roseau | 7 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Drew Gullickson-Fertile | 5 | 13 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 7 |
| Steven Sather-Fertile | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
Fertile vs Crookston
FIRST INNING
Fertile’s Steven Sather reached on an error, and Teagan Johnson singled to score a run for a 1-0 lead. After a strikeout, Caleb Sather smashed a ground ball to first base and reached on an error that allowed a run to score. Kaleb Hemmah crushed a line drive to the left-center field gap for a double that scored a run to give Fertile a 3-0 lead.
With one out, Crookston’s Matt Contreras doubled and came into score on an error to bring Crookston within a 3-1 deficit.
SECOND INNING
Fertile’s Drew Gullickson started off the inning with a single before stealing second base and moving over to third on an error. Kane Oistad singled to score the run, and the gates were open for Fertile. Steven Sather and Teagan Johnson singled before Bryer Strem reached on an error that allowed two runs to score. Caleb Sather smashed a line drive to the left-center field gap for a triple that scored two more runs. Hemma grounded out, and a run scored for a 9-1 lead.
Crookston’s Tony Elbinger led off the bottom of the inning with a double, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a Nolan Cassavant sacrifice fly to get within a 9-2 deficit.
THIRD INNING
Fertile’s Kane Oistad walked and stole second base, Steven Sather walked, and Johnson singled to score two runs for an 11-2 lead.
Crookston’s Davin Janek reached on a one-out walk before he was caught stealing, and the next batter was retired.
FOURTH INNING
Fertile’s Hemmah led off the inning with a walk and a stolen base. After a strikeout, Brady Bjerk walked, and Drew Gullickson singled to score a run. After another strikeout, Steven Sather reached on an error, and a run scored. Another run scored on another error, and Johnson knocked in a run with a single and later scored on a wild pitch for a 16-2 lead.
Crookston’s Isaiah Donarski singled and stole second base before the next three batters were retired.
FIFTH INNING-
Fertile’s Isaac Greve walked with one out and moved over to second base on a wild pitch. He advanced to third base on a wild pitch and scored on another wild pitch for a 17-2 lead.
Crookston’s Aiden Delage singled with one out, and Contreras doubled before Christian Cassavant was hit by a pitch to load the bases. The next two batters were retired, and Fertile won 17-2 by 10-run rule.
Crookston’s season ends with a 18-6 record, and they were outscored 56-2 in their three games this week. Fertile improves to 4-6 on the year and will play Red Lake County on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. in a loser-out game.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | R | H | E | |
| Fertile | 3 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 17 | 11 | 1 |
| Crookston | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 6 |
OFFENSIVE LEADERS –
Crookston –
Matt Contreras – 2 for 3, 2 doubles, run
Aiden Delage – 1 for 1
Tony Elbinger – 1 for 2, double, run
Tarek Siegle – 1 for 2, double
Isaiah Donarski – 1 for 3, stolen base
Fertile-
Teagan Johnson – 4 for 4, 4 rbi, 3 runs
Drew Gullickson – 2 for 3, 2 runs, rbi
Caleb Sather – 2 for 3, 3 rbi, walk
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB/HBP | K |
| Dexter Janek-Crox | 1.0 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| Nolan Cassavant-Crox | 3.0 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Aiden Delage-Crox | 1.0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Kolby Hemmah-Fert | 1.0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Bryer Strem-Fert | 1.0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Kane Oistad-Fert | 3.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
