The Crookston American Legion Nels T. Wold Post 20 baseball team jumped out to an early lead and was able to hang on late as they beat Win-E-Mac 11-9 in a game played in Erskine.
Crookston got off to a good start in the top of the first inning. They brought 12 batters to the plate and scored six runs. After the leadoff batter was retired, the next eight batters reached for Crookston. They took advantage of a couple of errors, Cade DeLeon had a two-RBI double, and Jackson Demarais and Carter Bruggeman were hit by pitches in back-to-back at-bats with the bases loaded to bring in a couple of runs. The scoring was capped off by a two-out single from Jacob Miller that brought in the sixth run of the inning.
Win-E-Mac answered back with a couple of runs in the second inning. Remy Goodwin singled and Brandon Van Den Eide walked and eventually came around to score with the aid of an error to make the game 6-2.
Crookston got back in the scoring column in the fourth inning on a solo homer off the bat of Brooks Butt with one out to add to the lead at 7-2.
Win-E-Mac got that run back in the bottom half of the inning. Just like in the second inning, Goodwin singled and Van Den Eide walked to start the inning. After a fielder’s choice moved Goodwin to third, he scored on a passed ball to cut the lead back to four at 7-3.
Crookston added two more runs in the sixth inning. Cade Coauette reached on a leadoff walk and Brooks Butt followed with a double. Crookston got productive outs and were able to bring in both runners to take a 9-2 lead.
Win-E-Mac battled back with a big inning in the bottom of the sixth. A walk and a single started the inning which prompted a pitching change. An RBI single from Matt Sykes was sandwiched between two strikeouts so with two outs in the inning the score was 9-4. The next four batters reach base via two walks, an RBI double from Gavin Walker, and an RBI single from Remy Goodwin and it resulted in five more runs to tie the game at 9-9 heading into the final inning.
Crookston stayed composed and they were able to settle back in on offense as they added to more runs to take back the lead. Gunner Gunderson led off with a walk and got to second on a passed ball. After a hit-by-pitch, a fielder’s choice did not get an out so they bases were loaded for Crookston. Ashton Larson came through with the big hit, a single, to take the lead at 11-9.
Brooks Butt came out to the mound in relief in the seventh inning and completed the victory for Crookston as he retired Win-E-Mac in order to secure the 11-9 win.
Crookston is now 3-0 this season. They will play a doubleheader against Red Lake Falls on Thursday starting at 6:30 at Jim Karn Field. You will be able to listen to both games on KROX Radio.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
| Crookston | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 9 | 2 |
| Win-E-Mac | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 6 | 5 |
| IP | H | R | ER | BB | K | |
| Cade Coauette- Crookston | 5.0 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Jacob Miller- Crookston | 1.0 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
| Brooks Butt- Crookston (WP) | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
For Crookston
Brooks Butt- 2 for 5, double, home run, RBI, 3 runs
Cade DeLeon- 1 for 5, double, 2 RBI, run
Cade Coauette- 1 for 3, 3 runs
Ashton Larson, Jackson Demarais, Carter Bruggeman- 1 hit and RBI each
