The Crookston Pirate Baseball team played a great game and trailed 6-4 before the #2 Red Lake County Rebels exploded for an eight-run sixth inning to win the game 14-4 in six innings at L.E. Drechsel Field in Red Lake Falls.
Red Lake County came into the game, only giving up one hit in the first four games of the season (24 innings), and Crookston’s first two batters had base hits.
FIRST INNING-
Crookston started the game with back-to-back singles from Dexter Janek and Greyson Ecker. Gavyn Hlucny walked to load the bases before Isaiah Donarski hit into a double play that allowed Janek to score for a 1-0 lead. Lucas Perala followed with a line drive one-hopper to the fence in left-center field to score a run for a 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the inning, Red Lake County’s Ben Gullingsrud walked with one out. He stole second and was stranded there as the next two batters were retired.
SECOND INNING-
Crookston’s Nolan Cassavant led off the inning with a walk before the next batter hit into a double play. The next batter struck out for a quick half inning.
Red Lake County got the bats going in the bottom of the inning when Denny Lanctot singled and stole second base. Lanctot advanced to third and scored on a pop fly to the Pirate catcher in foul territory. Nobody covered home plate, and Lanctot scored. Colin Taggart and Cain Cardinal singled, and Dawson Erickson walked. Taggart scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at 2-2. Another run scored on a Will Gieseke sacrifice fly for a 3-2 lead. The Rebels added another run on a wild pitch and took a 4-2 lead into the third inning.
THIRD INNING –
Crookston responded in the third inning when Greyson Ecker walked and Hlucny singled. Ecker scored on a Rebel error to bring the Pirates within a 4-3 deficit.
Red Lake County answered in the bottom of the inning when Riley Broden walked and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Cain Cardinal singled to score Broden for a 5-3 lead through three innings.
FOURTH INNING-
Crookston’s Nolan Cassavant started the inning with a single before the next batter hit into a fielder’s choice to get Nolan at second base. After a pickoff out, the next batter struck out.
Red Lake County added another run in the bottom of the inning when Kegan Schmitz blasted a fly ball over the centerfield fence for a solo homerun for a 6-3 lead.
FIFTH INNING-
Crookston answered in the fifth inning when Dexter Janek reached on an error and stole second base. Hlucny singled to score Janek to get within a 6-4 deficit.
The first two Red Lake County batters were retired in the bottom of the inning before Cain Cardinal was hit by a pitch. Crookston’s starting pitcher, Isaiah Donarski, had to come out of the game as he had reached the pitch count. Greyson Ecker came into pitch and got the next batter to hit into a fielder’s choice.
SIXTH INNING-
Crookston’s Cassavant reached on a one-out walk before the next two batters were retired.
Red Lake County exploded for eight runs in the bottom of the inning. Will Gieseke started the inning by reaching on an error. Ben Gullingsrud singled, and Kegan Schmitz singled to score two runs. Gunnar Halverson singled to score a run. Denny Lanctot reached on an error before Riley Broden singled in two more runs for an 11-4 lead. Colin Taggart walked, and after a strikeout for the first out of the inning, Tre Seeger reached on a fielder’s choice. With two runners on, Gieseke crushed a fly ball over the left field fence for a walk-off three-run homer for a 14-4 victory.
Crookston drops to 2-3 on the year and will take on Sacred Heart on Tuesday. Red Lake County improves to 5-0 and will host Sacred Heart on Friday.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | R | H | E | |
| Crookston | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| Red Lake County | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 14 | 10 | 2 |
OFFENSIVE LEADERS –
Crookston –
Gavyn Hlucny – 2 for 2, rbi, run, walk
Nolan Cassavant – 1 for 1, 2 walks
Greyson Ecker – 1 for 2, 2 walks, run
Lucas Perala – 1 for 3, double, rbi
Red Lake County –
Kegan Schmitz – 2 for 3, 3 rbi, 2 runs, 2 stolen bases, homerun
Cain Cardinal – 2 for 3, rbi, run, hit by pitch
Will Gieseke – 1 for 4, 4 rbi, 2 runs, stolen base, homerun
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
| Isaiah Donarski – Crox | 4.2 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 3 |
| Greyson Ecker- Crox | 0.2 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Gunnar Halverson-RLC | 5.0 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
| Colin Taggart-RLC | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
