The Crookston American Legion Post 20 Baseball team struggled in a doubleheader against Wahpeton Post 20 on Thursday, falling 11-1 and 6-1 in two five-inning games at Vaderstad Stadium at John Randall Field in Wahpeton.
FIRST INNING-
Dexter Janek led off game one with a walk, moved to second and third on two separate wild pitches, and scored on a sacrifice fly from Greyson Ecker, giving Crookston a 1-0 lead without a hit. They would get another walk, but a strikeout would then end the frame.
Wahpeton led off the bottom of the first with a triple, and after Davin Janek got a big out, Aiden Hajek drove in the run to tie the game at 1. ANother hit put the runners on the corners before a pickoff error gave Wahpeton a 2-1 lead at the end of the inning.
SECOND INNING-
After two quick outs, Tony Elbinger delivered a base hit. The, Ethan Lanctot ripped a double to right-center field, but Elbinger was thrown out at the plate to end the inning, keeping Crookston scoreless.
The bottom of the inning turned into a dominant showcase for Wahpeton. The first ten batters of the inning reached base, including four consecutive walks and multiple RBI hits. Wahpeton got 9 runs before Crookston turned to Nolan Cassavant, who got a double play and a groundout to mercifully end the frame.
THIRD INNING –
Crookston looked to try and chip away in the top of the third, and after a Dexter Janek single, an error and a walk, the bases were loaded with one out. Unfortunately, the next two batters struck out, ending the inning and stranding all three baserunners.
The bottom of the inning saw Nolan Cassavant walk the bases loaded with one out, but this time, he was able to get out of the jam unscathed, inducing a popout and a groundout nto end the inning.
FOURTH INNING-
Crookston was retired in order in the fourth inning on a groundout, a popout and a strikeout.
In the home half of the inning, Nolan Cassavant got two quick outs before a hit-by-pitch and a walk put two on. However, Cassavant didn’t break, getting a flyout to end the threat.
FIFTH INNING-
Crookston got a two-out walk from Greyson Ecker in an attempt to extend the game in the fifth inning, which brought Davin Janke to the plate. He would hit one into right field, but Cayson Pinsonneault threw him out at first from there to end the game, giving Wahpeton an 11-1 win by run rule in game one.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | R | H | E | |
| Crookston | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Wahpeton | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0 | X | 11 | 6 | 1 |
OFFENSIVE LEADERS –
Crookston –
Dexter Janek – 1 for 2, R, BB
Tony Elbinger – 1 for 2
Wahpeton –
Treydon King – 2 for 2, RBI, R
Riley Jones – 1 for 3, 2 RBI
Carter Hockert – 1 for 1, RBI, 3 BB
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB/HBP | K |
| Davin Janek-Crox | 1 | 5 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| Nolan Cassavant-Crox | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 2 |
| Rylan Flack- Wah | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 6 |
Game 2
FIRST INNING-
Crookston was set down in order in the second on two strikeouts and a flyout.
A leadoff walk started the bottom of the first for Wahpeton, and then after a force play, a stolen base and an error got the runner to third. A sacrifice fly from Hajek made it 1-0. After another walk, a stolen base followed by two consecutive wild pitches gave Wahpeton a 2-0 lead before a groundout ended the frame.
SECOND INNING-
After two quick outs, Crookston got a walk from Nolan Cassavant and a single from Aiden DeLage, but a strikeout would then end the inning without runs.
Wahpeton was retired in order in the bottom of the inning on two groundouts and a flyout, with DeLage only throwing four pitches.
THIRD INNING-
Crookston was retired 1-2-3 in the third on a strikeout and two flyouts.
Wahpeton got their first baserunner in the third with one out on a walk. Brayden Steffens then stole second, reached third on a wild pitch, and scored on an RBI single from Treydon King, making it 3-0 Wahpeton. Then, King stole second, and ended up scoring on two more wild pitches, making it 4-0 before a great play at third by Parker Kelly ended the inning.
FOURTH INNING-
Crookston had their first two batters in the fourth inning set down before Cody Demerais, and Nolan Cassavant followed by DeLage each delivered singles to load the bases. Unfortunately, they would be stranded, as Riley Jones got a strikeout to end the frame.
Wahpeton was able to tag on two more in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring on yet another wild pitch and getting a sacrifice fly from Brayden Steffens, giving Wahpeton a 6-0 lead after four innings.
FIFTH INNING-
Crookston was able to successfully avoid a shutout in the fifth inning, as after Parker Kelly singled, Dexter Janek doubled him in on a shot to right-center, cutting the deficit to 6-1. That would be all they would get, though, as Wahpeton held on for a 6-1 win, sweeping the doubleheader.
Crookston drops to 6-6 on the season and will take on Fertile for one game on Friday night. Wahpeton is now 10-6.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | R | H | E | |
| Crookston | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 |
| Wahpeton | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | X | 6 | 3 | 0 |
Crookston-
Aiden DeLage – 2 for 2
Dexter Janek – 1 for 3, 2B, RBI
Parker Kelly – 1 for 3, R
Wahpeton-
Treydon King – 2 for 2, RBI, 2 R, SB
Brayden Steffens – 0 for 1, RBI, 2 R, 3 SB
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB/HBP | K |
| Aiden DeLage-Crox | 4 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 2 |
| Riley Jones -Wah | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
