The Crookston American Legion Baseball team started the week with a bit of a hiccup as they dropped two games to the West Fargo Rattlers, each by 9-4 scores at Young Field on Monday.
Game 1
FIRST INNING-
Crookston got off to a great start to this game, scoring quickly off of three straight hits, including RBI doubles from both Matt Contreras and Davin Janek, putting Crookston up 2-0. After a hit by pitch, an error put Crookston up 3-0, and they were able to tack on another run on a force play, putting up four runs before the Rattlers had a chance to hit.
In the bottom of the inning, after an out, Crookston committed two consecutive errors before a single cut the lead to 4-1. After another single made it 4-2, Dexter Janek recorded two flyouts to end the inning.
SECOND INNING-
Crookston would be set down in order in the second inning on a strikeout and two flyouts.
A hit by pitch and a one-out single put runners on the corners with two outs for the Rattlers. After an RBI groundout cut the lead to 4-3, West Fargo scored three straight runs on a single and two more errors, and suddenly had a 6-4 lead headed to the third inning.
THIRD INNING –
Crookston was again retired in order in the third, this time on a strikeout and two lineouts.
The Rattlers led off the bottom of the third inning with two singles, and then after a sacrifice bunt, they would both be driven in, and West Fargo would take an 8-4 lead into the fourth inning.
FOURTH INNING-
Cody Demerais led off the top of the fourth inning, and then after a strikeout, a hit by pitch put two runners on. However, no runs would come across, as the next two Crookston batters would go down quietly.
With one out in the bottom of the inning, West Fargo delivered back-to-back doubles for the second time, giving the Rattlers a 9-4 lead before a popout and a flyout ended the inning.
FIFTH INNING-
Crookston got back-to-back two-out singles from Greyson Ecker and Davin Janek in the fifth inning, but a flyout ended things, giving West Fargo a 9-4 victory.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | R | H | E | |
| Crookston | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 4 |
| West Fargo | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | X | 9 | 9 | 1 |
OFFENSIVE LEADERS –
Crookston –
Davin Janek – 1 for 2, RBI, BB
Matt Contreras – 1 for 3, RBI
Parker Kelly – 1 for 3
West Fargo
E. Warren – 3 for 3, 2B, 2 RBI
D. Cuellar – 2 for 2, 2B, 2 RBI
M. Moen – 2 for 3, 2 RBI
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
| Dexter Janek-Crox | 4 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| I. Schaffer-Fargo W | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 4 |
| J. Bye-Fargo W | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Game 2
FIRST INNING
Three of the first five batters for Crookston to start game two walked, leaving the bases loaded for Isaiah Donarski. He was able to bring one run in on a single, giving Crookston a 1-0 lead before a groundout ended the frame.
Cody Demerais got the start in the bottom of the inning, but after the first three runners reached and loaded the bases, he was pulled for Davin Janek. He was able to get a double play that scored the lead runner, but then the Rattlers got an RBI single to take a 2-1 lead before the inning ended.
SECOND INNING
Crookston went down 1-2-3 in the second inning on two groundouts and a flyout.
The Rattlers blew the game wide open in the bottom of the second inning, scoring six runs. Three batters were hit by a pitch in the inning, and five of the six runs were scored with two outs. The big hit came from Jaeden Bye who had a three-run triple, and by the end of the inning, West Fargo had an 8-1 advantage.
THIRD INNING –
Crookston began to chip away in the third inning. Hits from the Janek brothers and Greyson Ecker loaded the bases, and Donarski then grounded into a fielder’s choice where everyone was safe, cutting the lead to 8-2. Nolan Cassavant then drove in two with a single, making it 8-4 before consecutive strikeouts ended the frame.
West Fargo had a walk and a single in the bottom of the third, but Cassavant came in to pitch and held the Rattlers to their only scoreless inning of the evening.
FOURTH INNING-
Crookston looked to continue to chip away in the fourth inning with two one-out walks, but unfortunately no runs would come across.
In the bottom of the inning, a double followed by a wild pitch led to a sacrifice fly, giving the Rattlers a 9-4 lead before Cassavant recorded two strikeouts to end the frame.
FIFTH INNING-
After two outs, Crookston got two runners on in the fifth inning with a single and an error. However, a caught stealing play would end the game, giving West Fargo another 9-4 victory, sweeping the doubleheader.
Crookston is now 7=8 on the season and will take on Red Lake County Post 22 on Tuesday.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | R | H | E | |
| Crookston | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 0 |
| West Fargo | 2 | 6 | 0 | 1 | X | 9 | 7 | 1 |
OFFENSIVE LEADERS –
Crookston –
Isaiah Donarski – 1 for 3, 2 RBI
Nolan Cassavant – 1 for 3, 2 RBI
Dexter Janek – 1 for 1, 2B, 2 BB
West Fargo-
J. Bye – 3 for 3, 3B, 2B, 4 RBI
G. Sappington – 1 for 3, 2B, RBI
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
| Cody Demerais-Crox | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Davin Janek-Crox | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Nolan Cassavant-Crox | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| P. Schenck-Fargo W | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| T. Retterath-Fargo W | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
