The Crookston American Legion Post 20 Baseball team scored 18 runs to beat the Grand Forks Blues Junior Legion 18-9 at Jim Karn Field in Crookston.
FIRST INNING-
Grand Forks’ Pribula reached on an error and after the next two batters popped out, Widstrup tripled to the left-center field gap to score a run for a 1-0 lead. The next batter grounded out.
Crookston was retired in 1-2-3 fashion with a strikeout and a pair of groundouts.
SECOND INNING-
Grand Forks struck again in the second inning when Twedt singled and scored on a Harms triple on a line drive over the right fielder’s head for a 2-0 lead. The next batter struck out.
Crookston’s Tony Elbinger reached on an error, and Cody Demarais singled. A runner was picked off before a flyout and a strikeout.
THIRD INNING –
Grand Forks added more runs in the third inning, again with two outs. After the first two batters were retired, Widstrup and Allery singled to score a run. Another run scored on an error, and Grand Forks led 4-0.
Crookston’s Lucas Miller walked with one out before the next batter hit into a double play.
FOURTH INNING-
Grand Forks built a bigger lead in the fourth inning when Houser singled, and after a ground out, Harms walked and Pribula reached on an error for a 5-0 lead. Korynta singled to score a run. Another Grand Forks run scored on a wild pitch before Geats grounded out, allowing a run to score for an 8-0 lead.
Crookston finally got on the board in the bottom of the inning when a pitch hit Matt Contreras, Blake Melsa, Lucas Perala, and Teagen Lubinski all walked to score a run. A run scored on a passed ball before Isaiah Donarski singled to score two runs to bring Post 20 within an 8-4 deficit. The next two batters were retired before Miller, Jay Reese, and Contreras walked to score a run. Melsa singled to drive in a run before Perala laced a line drive to the right-center field fence and sprinted around the bases for an inside-the-park homerun to score three runs for a 10-7 lead.
FIFTH INNING-
Grand Forks’s Waldorf singled with one out before a pitch hit Kaufman. The next two batters were retired.
Crookston’s Donarski and Ethan Lanctot walked. Parker Kelly hit into a fielder’s choice and Grand Forks got the out at second base. Miller hit a line drive off the second baseman’s glove and knocked in a run before the next batter hit into a double play.
SIXTH INNING-
Grand Forks’ Pribula led off the inning with a walk. After the next two batters were retired Widstrup reached on an error to score a run to get within an 11-9 deficit.
Crookston’s Contreras led off with a triple, and Melsa singled to score a run. A pitch hit Perala, and after an out Donarski and Carter Fee were hit by a pitch to score a run. Kelly walked to score a run, Nolan Cassavant and Reese were hit by a pitch to score two more runs. Contreras walked and Melsa was out on a sacrifice fly to score two more runs for an 18-9 lead.
SEVENTH INNING-
Grand Forks’ Waldorf doubled and after a ground out, Varriano reached on a strikeout and wild pitch. The next two batters fouled out down the first baseline and the game was over with Crookston winning 18-9.
Crookston improves to 9-7 on the year and will host Middle River for a doubleheader on Wednesday, starting at 6:00 PM. The first game will be on KROX Radio.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
| Grand Forks | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 8 | 2 |
| Crookston | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 7 | – | 18 | 6 | 5 |
OFFENSIVE LEADERS –
Crookston –
Blake Melsa – 2 for 3, 3 rbi, 2 runs, walk
Cody Demerais – 1 for 1
Lucas Perala – 1 for 2, 3 runs, 3 rbi, inside-the-park home run
Isaiah Donarski – 1 for 2, 3 runs, 2 rbi, walk, hbp
Matt Contreras – 1 for 2, 2 rbi, 2 walks, triple, hbp
Grand Forks-
G. Widstrup – 2 for 4, rbi, run
R. Waldorf – 2 for 4
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB/HBP | K |
| Blake Melsa-Crox | 5.1 | 7 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| Isaiah Donarski-Crox | 1.2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rylan Waldorf-GF | 3.2 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 4 |
| O. Harms-GF | 0.1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| G. Widstrup-GF | 1.1 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 0 |
| M. Gets-GF | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
