The Crookston American Legion Post 20 Baseball team traveled north to Warroad on Thursday night for a doubleheader against the Warroad American Legion Baseball team.
GAME ONE –
The first game was all Warroad right from the beginning. After Crookston went scoreless in the top of the first inning, Blake Norris hit a 2-out solo home run down the right field line to put Warroad in front 1-0 after one inning of play.
Warroad would break the game open in the bottom of the second inning scoring four runs. The leadoff hitter would hit a double, and after a strikeout, four straight Warroad hitters would reach base scoring three runs. They would also get a 2-out bloop single to center field to tack on one more run and take a 5-0 lead into the third inning.
Crookston would threaten in the third inning with a leadoff walk from Alex Longoria and Jacob Miller reaching on an error. After a strikeout for the second out of the inning, Longoria and Miller would double steal to put runners on third and second base with two outs. Unfortunately, the threat would end with another strikeout, and Crookston would be kept off the scoreboard.
Warroad would continue to score runs putting up two more in the bottom of the third. a 1-out single and walk put runners on first and second base, and after a strikeout, a balk was called on Crookston pitcher Blake Melsa, putting runners on third and second base with two outs. A jam shot single to right field off the bat of Murray Marvin-Cordes would then plate both runs, giving Warroad a 7-0 lead through three innings.
Warroad would score 5 more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning thanks to three walks, and two hit-by-pitches from the Crookston pitching staff. They would also have two timely hits. That would force Crookston to score at least three runs in the top of the fifth inning to avoid the run rule and keep the game going as Warroad led 12-0.
Crookston did get their first hit in the game on a double from Longoria, but he would be stranded on base, and Warroad would take the first game of the night 12-0 in just five innings.
| GAME 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | R | H | E |
| Crookston | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Warroad | 1 | 4 | 2 | 5 | – | 12 | 10 | 1 |
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
| Blake Melsa – Crookston (LP) | 3 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 4 |
| George Widman – Crookston | 0.2 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Cade DeLeon – Crookston | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Evan Grover – Warroad (WP) | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 |
For Crookston –
Alex Longoria 1 for 2, BB, SB
Ashton Larson 0 for 1, BB
Cade DeLeon 0 for 1, BB
For Warroad –
Blake Norris 2 for 2, Home Run, 2 rbi, 2 runs BB
Jacob McFarlane 2 for 2, 3 rbi, 3 runs, BB
Murray Marvin-Cordes 2 for 2, 2 rbi, run, HBP
Jack Jones 1 for 4, 2 rbi
GAME TWO –
Crookston had a much better start in game two as George Widman drew a leadoff walk. After a pop-out, a Warroad error put runners on first and second base with one out. Alex Longoria would then deliver a base hit down the third-base line scoring Widman and giving Crookston an early 1-0 lead. Warroad would retire the next two Crookston hitters and get out of the jam down just one run.
Warroad didn’t trail for long, drawing a leadoff walk and delivering back-to-back hits to take a 2-1 lead. Alex Longoria would settle down after that, and leave two runners on base, ending the inning with a strikeout to give Warroad a 2-1 lead after one inning.
Warroad would continue their trend and score again in the bottom of the second inning. They would draw back-to-back walks, and after a Crookston throwing error put runners on third and second base, Evan Grover would hit a sacrifice fly to score a run. That gave Warroad a 3-1 lead heading into the third inning.
Warroad would draw two more walks in the third inning and score another run to take a 4-1 lead. They weren’t done yet, getting a big 2-out double from Murray Marvin-Cordes to score 2 more and take a 6-1 lead after three innings of play. Warroad drew 7 walks through the first three innings of the game to help build the lead.
Crookston would load the bases in the top of the fourth inning with a leadoff single from Longoria, Cade Coauette getting hit by a pitch, and a Warroad error. With one out that would bring Blake Melsa to the plate. Melsa would hit a fly ball to left field for an out, and Longoria would try to tag up and score but would be thrown out at the plate, ending the inning and keeping Warroad in front 6-1.
Warroad would score three more runs in the bottom of the fourth, one in the bottom of the fifth inning, and score the winning run in the bottom of the sixth inning to win the game 11-1 in six innings due to the run rule.Â
Crookston falls to 3-5 on the season while Warroad improves to 5-1.
FOR CROOKSTON MANAGER ROB SILVERS COMMENTS, CLICK BELOWÂ
| GAME 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | R | H | E |
| Crookston | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Warroad | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 9 | 3 |
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
| Alex Longoria – Crookston (LP) | 2.2 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 2 |
| Cade Coauette – Crookston | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Cade DeLeon – Crookston | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Chance Smith – Warroad (WP) | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Jacob Mcfarland – Warroad | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
For Crookston –
Alex Longoria 2 for 3, rbi
George Widman 0 for 2, BB, run
For Warroad –
Evan Grover 2 for 2, 2 rbi, 2 runs, 2 BB, Sac Fly
Karter Kcomony 2 for 2, 2 BB, 2 runs, rbi
Jack Jones 1 for 3, 2 runs, 2 BB
Murray Marvin-Cordes 1 for 3, 2 rbi, BB
