The Crookston Pirate Baseball team scored 16 runs on 16 hits to beat the Kittson County Central Bearcats 16-6 in six innings at Jim Karn Field in Crookston on Thursday afternoon.
FIRST INNING-
KCC’s Ashton Knutson led off the game with a four-pitch walk before stealing second base. Eli Muir singled, and a run scored on an error. Eli Peterson walked, and after an out, Kamden Gullickson singled, and Track Folland reached on an error that allowed a run to score for a 2-0 lead. Evan Schwenzfier singled to score two more runs for a 4-0 lead.
Crookston came out swinging in the bottom of the inning when Dexter Janek led off with a blast over the right fielder’s head for a triple. Greyson Ecker singled to score a run. Gavyn Hlucny singled, and Isaiah Donarski singled to score a run to bring the Pirates within a 4-2 deficit.
SECOND INNING-
KCC added another run in the second inning when Knutson was hit by a pitch before stealing second base. Peterson followed with a singled and Johnson was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Gullickson grounded out to second base, but a run scored, and the Bearcats led 5-2.
In the bottom of the inning, Crookston’s Aiden Delage and Dexter Janek walked. Ecker singled to load the bases. Hlucny hit into a fielder’s choice where the bearcats got the out at home, and bases were still loaded. Lucas Perala lined a single to centerfield to score two runs to get within a 5-4 deficit.
THIRD INNING –
KCC’s Schwenzfier and Olsonowski singled. After the next batter was retired, the next batter hit a ground ball to third, and the Pirates got the out at third base.
With one out, Crookston’s Davin Janek singled, but his courtesy runner was caught stealing. The next batter was retired, and KCC led 5-4.
FOURTH INNING-
KCC was retired in 1-2-3 fashion.
Crookston countered with a big bottom of the inning. Ecker and Hlucny singled before Donarski walked to load the bases. After the second out of the inning, Cody Demarais singled to score two runs, and Nolan Cassavant singled to score two more runs for an 8-5 lead.
FIFTH INNING-
KCC’s Schwenzfier singled with one out before the next two batters were retired. Crookston broke the game open in the bottom of the inning as Dexter Janek, Ecker, and Hlucny all walked to load the bases with one out. After a strikeout, Crookston put a two-out rally together with a Perala single to score two runs. Demarais singled to score a run. Another run scored on a wild pitch. Cassavant tripled to score a run, and another run scored on an error for a 14-5 lead.
SIXTH INNING-
KCC’s Knutson led off the inning, reaching on an error, and stole second base before he scored on an error to get within a 14-6 deficit. Crookston made a pitching change, and Cassavant came in and gave up a single before retiring the next three batters.
Crookston needed two runs in the bottom of the inning to win the game. Dexter Janek and Ecker walked before Hlucny singled to score a run for a 15-6 lead. After a strikeout, Perala singled to score the game-winning run for a 16-6 victory.
Crookston improves to 3-4 on the year and will play Barnesville at 6:30 p.m. on Friday in the Jim Karn Classic. KCC drops to 0-3 on the year.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | R | H | E | |
| KCC | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 4 |
| Crookston | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 16 | 16 | 5 |
OFFENSIVE LEADERS –
Crookston –
Greyson Ecker – 3 for 3, 5 runs, 2 walks, rbi
Gavyn Hlucny – 3 for 4, 2 runs, rbi
Lucas Perala – 3 for 5, 5 rbi, run
Nolan Cassavant – 2 for 3, 2 rbi, triple, run
Cody Demarais – 2 for 4, 3 rbi, run
Dexter Janek – 1 for 2, 4 runs, 3 walks, triple
Isaiah Donarski and Davin Janek had one hit each
Kittson County Central-
Evan Schwenzfier – 3 for 3, 2 rbi
Eli Peterson – 2 for 4, run
Briggs Youngren, Eli Muir, and Kamden Gullickson had one hit each
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
| Davin Janek- Crox | 5.0 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Nolan Cassavant-Crox | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Ashten Knutson-KCC | 1.0 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| Eli Peterson-KCC | 3.0 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 3 |
| Kamden Gullickson-KCC | 1.0 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
