The Crookston American Legion Post 20 Baseball team began the Crookston Summer Slam tournament tonight by hosting Bemidji. Crookston put together arguably their best game of the season and their best win of the season, scoring 8 runs in the fourth inning and winning the game 11-2 to start the tournament 1-0.
Crookston got off to an excellent start with Alex Longoria pitching a scoreless top of the first inning. In the bottom half of the frame, Crookston got on the board with a leadoff single from Jacob Miller, a Sac Bunt from Cade Coauette, and a rbi single from Ashton Larson, giving them the early 1-0 edge.
The lead didn’t last long, as Bemidji worked a 1-out walk in the top of the second, and after a stolen base, hit a base knock that would tie the game at 1-1.
Crookston would threaten in the bottom of the second with a 1-out single by Blake Melsa and a walk from Lucas Miller. Carter Coauette would then hit a shot that the second basemen couldn’t handle, and Crookston would try to score Melsa from second base. The throw to the plate would gun Melsa down for the second out of the inning, and Jacob Miller would then line out for the final out, leaving the game tied at 1-1 after two innings of play.
Spencer Ness would relieve Longoria in the top of the third and pitch a 1-2-3 frame, and Crookston would regain the lead in the home half of the inning. Alex Longoria would rope a 1-out single, and Ashton Larson would knock in his second run of the day scoring Longoria and giving Crookston a 2-1 edge. They would tack on one more run after Teagen Lubinski drew a walk and there was a Bemidji error to load the bases. Blake Melsa would then hit a sacrifice fly and Crookston would lead 3-1 after three innings of baseball.
Bemidji would get within one run in the top of the fourth inning with a 1-out single, two wild pitches, and a Crookston fielding error. Spencer Ness however would bear down and get a strikeout to end the inning, keeping Crookston in front 3-2.
Crookston then broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth scoring 8 runs. They began the inning with three straight hits. After Jacob Miller and Cade Coauette hit back-to-back singles, Alex Longoria would smack a double to drive one run in, and Ashton Larson would follow it up with a sacrifice fly making it 5-2 Crookston. Teagen Lubinski would then get hit by a pitch, and Jackson Demarais would single to load the bases back up with just one out. Bemidji would get a much-needed strikeout for the second out of the inning, but back-to-back walks to Lucas Miller and Spencer Ness would plate two more runs, and after a Bemidji error scored another run, Cade Coauette would clear the bases with a double. Bemidji would finally get out of the inning, but the damage was done with Crookston in front 11-2.
Ness would pitch another scoreless inning in the top of the fifth and that would end the game with an 11-2 win for Crookston as there is an 8-run rule in place after five innings to keep the tournament on schedule.
Crookston improves to 6-9 on the season and will continue to play in the Crookston Summer Slam tournament tomorrow. Crookston will first play Worthington at 1:00 p.m., and then Wahpeton at 6:00 p.m. Depending on how Crookston fairs, will determine whether they will play in the Championship or 3rd place game on Sunday.
FOR CROOKSTON MANAGER ROB SILVERS COMMENTS, CLICK BELOW
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| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | R | H | E | |
| Bemidji | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Crookston | 1 | 0 | 2 | 8 | – | 11 | 11 | 1 |
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
| Alex Longoria – Crox | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Spencer Ness – Crox (WP) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Dylan Waukazo – Bemidji (LP) | 3 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Alex Schaefer – Bemidji | 0.2 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Dylan Lundin – Bemidji | 0.1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
For Crookston –
Cade Coauette 2 for 3, 3 rbi, run, sac bunt
Ashton Larson 2 for 3, 3 rbi, run, sac fly
Alex Longoria 3 for 4, 2 runs, rbi, SB
Jacob Miller 2 for 4, 2 runs
Lucas Miller, 3 walks, rbi
For Bemidji –
Max Bahr 1 for 2, rbi
Casey St. John 1 for 2, run
Fischer Ganske, run
