The Crookston American Legion Post 20 Baseball team scored a bunch of runs early and held on the rest of the way for a 9-3 victory over the Fertile American Legion team on a beautiful night in Fertile.
FIRST INNING
Crookston’s Blake Melsa reached on an error with one out before Gavyn Hlucny walked. The next two batters were retired.
The first two Fertile batters popped out before Caleb Sather singled. The next batter struck out, and the game was scoreless after the first inning.
SECOND INNING
Crookston broke the game open in the second inning when Lucas Perala was hit by a pitch, Isaiah Donarski walked and Nolan Cassavant was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Teagen Lubinski walked to score a run for a 1-0 lead. Matt Contreras walked to score another run. Melsa knocked in a run on a sacrifice fly for a 3-0 lead, all without a hit. Gavyn Hlucny doubled to score two more runs on the first Crookston hit of the game. After a Tanner Giese walk, Carter Fee knocked in a run on a fielder’s choice for a 6-0 lead. The batter popped out.
Fertile’s Teegyn Johnson walked with one out before the next batter struck out and Johnson was caught stealing for the third out of the inning.
THIRD INNING
Crookston’s Donarski walked to lead off the inning. After a strikeout, Lubinski walked. The next two batters were retired.
Fertile’s Brady Bjerk led off the bottom of the inning with a walk. After a ground out, Bryer Strem ripped a line drive to left field for a double, and a run scored. Steven Sather was retired on a line drive to centerfield, but another run scored and Fertile cut the deficit to 6-2. The next batter flew out.
FOURTH INNING
Crookston was retired in 1-2-3 fashion in the top of the inning. Fertile’s Preston Hanson led off the bottom of the inning with a double and advanced to third base on a wild pitch. Hanson scored on a Kolby Hemmah ground out to get within a 6-3 deficit. Johnson walked before the next two batters were retired.
FIFTH INNING
Crookston was retired in 1-2-3 fashion for the second straight inning. Fertile’s Sorenson reached on an error. After an out, Steven Sather singled before getting picked off, and the next batter popped out, and the inning was over.
SIXTH INNING
Crookston’s first batter of the inning popped out before Contreras and Melsa walked. Hlucny singled to score a run on only the second hit of the game for Crookston with both coming from Hlucny. Giese grounded out and Melsa scored a run for an 8-3 lead.
Fertile was retired in 1-2-3 fashion.
SEVENTH INNING
Crookston’s Perala led off the inning with a walk. After the next two batters were retired, Perala stole third base and scored on an error for a 9-3 lead.
Fertile was retired in 1-2-3 fashion in the bottom of the inning as Crookston won the game 9-3 with only two hits in the game.
Crookston improves to 4-3 on the year and 2-0 in league play and will compete in the Grand Forks tournament this weekend. They play Hillsboro/Reynolds, Larimore, North Winnipeg, and an opponent to be determined.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
| Crookston | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 2 |
| Fertile | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO |
| Gavyn Hlucny – Crox (WP) | 5.0 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Blake Melsa – Crox | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Preston Hanson – FB (LP) | 1.1 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 1 |
| Drew Gullickson – FB | 5.2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 4 |
Crookston leaders
Gavyn Hlucny – 2 for 3, 3 rbi, run, walk
Fertile-Beltrami leaders –
Bryer Strem – 1 for 3, rbi, run
Preston Hanson – 1 for 3, run
Steven Sather – 1 for 3, rbi
Caleb Sather – 1 for 3
