CROOKSTON LEGION BASEBALL BEATS WIN-E-MAC, LOSE TO MIDDLE RIVER

The Crookston American Legion Post 20 Baseball team beat Win-E-Mac 10-2 and lost to Middle River Post 444 8-0 in the second game of a split doubleheader at Jim Karn Field in Crookston.

WIN-E-MAC GAME 

FIRST INNING
Crookston was retired in 1-2-3 fashion to start the game with two flyouts and a lineout.
Win-E-Mac’s first batters struck out before some control problems popped up. The next three batters walked to load the bases before Howard was hit by a pitch to score a run for a 1-0 lead. Crookston’s Matt Contreras had a visit from assistant coach Alex Longoria. When Longoria came back from the meeting on the mound, he told head coach Rob Silvers with a smile, “I told him to throw strikes.” It worked because Contreras struck out the next batter before getting the third out on a ground out to get out of the inning.

SECOND INNING
Crookston’s Tanner Giese singled to start the inning. After a strikeout, Donarski walked, and the next batter hit into a double play.
The first Win-E-Mac batter struck out before Peter Kolden walked, and Bergman singled. A run scored on a Sander ground out for a 2-0 lead. Hamre reached on an error and stole second base and runners were at second and third. The next batter struck out, and Win-E-Mac led 2-0 after two innings.

THIRD INNING
Crookston’s Cody Demarais started off the inning with a great at bat. He fouled off several pitches, including one foul ball that hit his grandpa’s car. After fouling a few more pitches, he was hit by a pitch. Lucas Miller singled to right field before the next two batters were retired. Hlucny singled to score a run to bring Crookton within a 2-1 deficit. Hlucny was thrown out trying to reach second base, and the inning was over.
At this point on June 28, the game was suspended, and the rest of the game was finished on Wednesday, July 10.
Win-E-Mac’s Strom walked with one out before the next two batters struck out.

FOURTH INNING
Crookston was retired in 1-2-3 fashion with three strikeouts.
The first two Win-E-Mac batters struck out and flew out before Hamre walked. The next batter struck out, and the inning was over with Win-E-Mac leading 2-1.

FIFTH INNING
Crookston’s Demarais singled to right field with one out. The next batter struck out before Contreras and Melsa singled to score a run to tie the game at 2-2. Gavyn Hlucny followed with another single to score two runs for a 4-2 lead. Giese walked before the next batter grounded out.
Win-E-Mac’s Spry and Strom walked with one out before a fielder’s choice, and a flyout ended the inning.

SIXTH INNING
Crookston’s first two batters grounded out and flew out before Demarais singled to center field. Lucas Miller walked before Contreras doubled to score two runs. Melsa followed with a triple to score a run, and Crookston led 7-2.
The first Win-E-Mac batter reached on an error before a strikeout, fielder’s choice, and another strikeout.

SEVENTH INNING
The first three Crookston batters, Nolan Cassavant, Isaiah Donarski, and Carter Fee walked to load the bases. After a strikeout, Miller walked to score a run. The next Crookston batter popped out before Melsa singled to score two more runs for a 10-2 lead.
Win-E-Mac was retired in 1-2-3 fashion in the bottom of the inning, and Crookston won the game 10-2.

Crookston leaders
Blake Melsa – 3 for 5, 4 rbi, run
Gavyn Hlyucny – 2 for 3, 3 rbi, 2 walks
Cody Demarais – 2 for 3, 3 runs
Matt Contreras – 2 for 5, 2 rbi, 2 run

Win-E-Mac leaders –
B. Howard – 1 for 3, rbi
Cameron Bergman – 1 for 4

BGMR GAME 

FIRST INNING
Middle River’s Torgerson singled to lead off the game before scoring on a Splide triple that was blasted to dead-center field for a 1-0 lead. The next batter flew out before Olson walked. Spilde scored on a passed ball for a 2-0 lead. After a walk to Anderson, another run scored on a fielder’s choice. The fourth run of the inning scored on a wild pitch for a Middle River 4-0 lead.
Crookston’s Matt Contreras was hit by a pitch to start the bottom of the inning before the next three batters were retired with a pair of strikeouts and a fielder’s choice.

SECOND INNING
Middle River was retired in 1-2-3 fashion with three strikeouts. The first two Crookston batters struck out before Carter Fee singled to left field. The next batters grounded out, and Middle River took a 4-0 lead into the third inning.

THIRD INNING
The first three Middle River batters were hit by a pitch to load the bases. The next batter popped out, followed by two more strikeouts, and Crookston got out of a big jam.
Crookston retired in 1-2-3 fashion with a strikeout, flyout, and lineout.

FOURTH INNING
Middle River was retired in 1-2-3 fashion with two strikeouts and a ground out.
Crookston’s Gavyn Hlucny was hit by a pitch to start the bottom of the inning. The next batter flew out, Hlucny was caught stealing, and the next batter struck out for the third out of the inning. Middle River took a 4-0 lead into the fifth inning.

FIFTH INNING
Middle River’s Olson was hit by a pitch to start the inning before the next batter grounded out to the pitcher for the first out of the inning. The next batter lined out to center field, and the runner on second base tagged up. Crookston’s Lucas Miller launched a rocket to third base, and Blake Melsa made the catch and waited to tag the runner at third base for the double play.
Crookston’s first two batters struck out before Demarais reached on an error. The next batter struck out, and Crookston was retired.

SIXTH INNING
Middle River’s A. Bray led off with a single and after an out, Augustine walked and Torgerson bunted for a hit to load the bases. Two runs scored on a throwing error. Spilde walked and C. Bray singled to score another run. Spilde scored on a wild pitch and Middle River led 8-0.
Crookston’s Contreras walked before a double play and a pop out.

SEVENTH INNING
Middle River’s A. Bray walked with one out before the next two batters struck out.
Crookston’s Isaiah Donarski walked with one out before the next two batters were retired and Middle River won the game 8-0.

Crookston is 10-9 on the year and will start the playoffs next week. It looks like Crookston will play Twin Valley in a play-in game on Tuesday, but that is to be determined later.

Crookston leaders
Cody Demarais – 1 for 2
Carter Fee – 1 for 3

Middle River leaders –
Torgerson – 2 for 4, 2 runs
Spilde – 1 for 3, 2 runs, rbi, walk, triple
A. Bray – 1 for 3, run, rbi, walk