The Crookston American Legion Post 20 Baseball team‘s Matt Contreras struck out 14 (of the 15 outs) and the offense scored 17 runs in a 17-1 victory over Twin Valley/Ulen-Hitterdal in five innings at Jim Karn Field in Crookston.
FIRST INNING-
Twin Valley/Ulen-Hitterdal started the game with a Jacobson double and a Haspel walk. The next three batters struck out and Crookston pitcher Matt Contreras got himself out of a jam.
In the bottom of the inning, Crookston’s Parker Kelly was hit by a pitch, Matt Contreras popped the ball up between the pitcher and catcher, and neither fielder went to catch it, and it fell in between for a base hit. A pitch hit Teagen Lubinski to load the bases. Gavyn Hlucny hit a fly ball to right field and knocked in a run. Blake Melsa popped out to left field to score the game’s second run. A pitch hit Lucas Perala before Lubinski scored on a passed ball, and Crookston led 3-0.
SECOND INNING-
Crookston’s Contreras struck out all three batters he faced in the second inning for six straight strikeouts.
Crookston’s Nolan Cassvant drew a walk to start the bottom of the inning. Nolan advanced to second and third on the same wild pitch and scored on a throwing error for a 4-0 lead. Lucas Miller was hit by a pitch and Kelly had a check swing infield single. Lubinski followed with a solid single to score a run for a 5-0 lead. After an out, Kelly stole third base and scored on a throwing error for a 6-0 lead.
THIRD INNING –
Crookston’s Contreras continued his mastery on the mound as he struck out all three batters in the top of the inning for nine straight strikeouts.
Crookston’s Greyson Ecker bunted for a single and moved to second base on a throwing error. Cassvant hit into a fielder’s choice, and everybody was safe. Miller flew out to center field to score a run. Kelly flew out to left field to score another run and Crookston led 8-0.
FOURTH INNING-
Crookston’s Contreras struck out the first two batters of the inning to extend his streak of 11 straight strikeouts. The next batter broke the streak with a flyout to right field.
Crookston’s Hlucny and Melsa walked before Perala hit a deep fly ball to right field that one-hopped the fence for a two-run scoring triple for a 10-0 lead. Ecker flew out to left field to score a run. Cassavant reached on an error, Miller walked, and after a strikeout, Contreras singled to score two more runs for a 13-0 lead. Carter Fee walked before Tony Elbinger singled to score a run. Ethan Lanctot singled, and Ecker walked. Another run scored on a passed ball, and Crookston led 17-0.
FIFTH INNING-
The first two Twin Valley/Ulen-Hitterdal batters struck out before Bentley doubled. Sannes singled to score a run. The next batter walked before Crookston’s Contreras struck out the next batter for his 14th strikeout of the game and Crookston won the game 17-1.
Crookston improves to 7-6 on the year and 6-1 in league play, which keeps them in first place in the south pod. The win was worth two points in the standings. Crookston will take on the East Grand Forks Legion team at 6:00 p.m. at Stauss Park in East Grand Forks.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | R | H | E | |
| Twin Valley | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 |
| Crookston | 3 | 3 | 2 | 9 | – | 17 | 9 | 0 |
OFFENSIVE LEADERS –
Crookston –
Matt Contreras – 2 for 3, 2 rbi, 2 runs, walk
Parker Kelly – 1 for 1, 2 runs, rbi
Cody Demarais – 1 for 1, rbi, run
Tony Elbinger – 1 for 1, 2 rbi, run
Ethan Lanctot – 1 for 1
Teagen Lubinski – 1 for 2, rbi, run
Greyson Ecker – 1 for 2, rbi, walk
Twin Valley/Ulen-Hitterdal-
C. Bentley – 1 for 2, run
I. Jacobson – 1 for 2, walk
S. Sannes – 1 for 2, rbi
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB/HBP | K |
| Matt Contreras-Crox | 5.0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 14 |
| C. Klemetson-TVUH | 3.0 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 1 |
| Flaten-TVUH | 1.0 | 5 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 2 |
