The Crookston American Legion Post #20 Baseball team beat Middle River 10-2 and 14-1 in a double header at Jim Karn Field in Crookston. The wins are the ninth and 10th in a row for Crookston.
GAME ONE-
FIRST INNING
Middle River’s first two batters were retired. The next batter walked before a fly out ended the inning.
In the bottom of the first, Lucas Miller drew a lead off walk followed by a George Widman single. Ashton Larson grounded out to shortstop to score a run. Tanner Geise drew a walk and after a strikeout Parker Kelly walked with bases loaded to score a run for a 2-0 lead.
SECOND INNING
Middle River’s first two batter were retired. The next batter singled before a strikeout ended the inning.
Crookston’s first two batters struck out before a flyout to center field ended the inning.
THIRD INNING
Middle River’s first batter struck out. The next two batters where also retired off of groundouts.
Ashton Larson began the inning for Crookston by singling. Al Longoria drove Larson home with a double. An error allowed Longoria to score. With two on and two outs, Blake Melsa hit a 2 RBI double to put Crookston up by six.
FOURTH INNING
Middle River began with a flyout to shortstop. Bergen Howard bunted on the next at bat. After a hit by pitch, Crookston suffered a throwing error that got the two on base home. One additional throwing error allowed a runner to second but a pair of strikeouts by Melsa ended any further threat.
Crookston’s first two batters were retired. Al Longoria singled and reached second off of a steal. The next batter was retired to end the inning.
FIFTH INNING
Middle River’s first batter struck out. The next two batters both flew out which included Larsen hanging over the left foul fence to get the catch that ended the inning.
Crookston got two batters aboard due to a throwing error and a hit by pitch. The next three Crookston batters were retired to end the inning.
SIXTH INNING
Middle River was retired in 1-2-3 fashion.
George Widman led off the bottom of the inning with a walk. Larson reached on an error before Longoria singled to score Widman for a 7-2 lead. The next batter hit into a fielder’s choice before the ensuing batter grounded out for the second out of the inning. Parker Kelly singled to score two more runs for a 9-2 lead. Dalton Delude pinch-hit for Ames and reached on a wild pitch on a third strike before Melsa singled to score another run and Crookston led 10-2.
SEVENTH INNING
Middle River’s lead off batter struck out, Cade Knutson walked before Alex Bray singled. The next two batters were retired and Crookston won the first game 10-2.
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1
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2
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3
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4
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5
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6
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7
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R
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H
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E
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Middle River
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0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
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Crookston
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2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | x | 10 | 10 | 2 |
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Pitching
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IP
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H
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R
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ER
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BB
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K
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| Blake Melsa-Crox (WP) | 7.0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 9 |
| Cade Knutson-MR (LP) | 4.0 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 |
| Caleb Bray- MR | 2.0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
For Crookston-
Alex Longoria-4 for 4, 2 runs, 2 rbi
Blake Melsa-2 for 4, 3 rbi
Parker Kelly-1 for 2, 4 rbi, 2 runs, walk
For Middle River-
Bergan Howard, Cade Knutson, and Alex Bray each had one hit.
GAME TWO-
FIRST INNING
The first Middle River batter reached on a throwing error. After two straight walks, Giese would get two straight strikeouts. Middle River would get a bases loaded walk to score a run.
Crookston’s Lucas Miller would reach on an error. Miller would then go on to steal both 2nd and 3rd and then score on a throwing error to tie the game at 1. The other three Crookston batters would strikeout.
SECOND INNING
Middle River was retired in 1-2-3 fashion.
The first two Crookston batters were retired. Nate Kelly was hit by a pitch before the next batter grounded out.
THIRD INNING
Middle River’s lead off batter reached on a walk and stole second base. The next batter blooped a single into shallow left field and runners were at first and third base with no outs. The next batter tried to lay down a sacrifice bunt, but Crookston’s Parker Kelly fielded the bunt, looked the runner back to third base before throwing to first base for the out. The next batter flew out to center field and Crookston’s Giese took a couple of steps to get the out at second base for a double play and the score was still tied at 1-1.
Crookston’s Parker Kelly led off the bottom of the inning with a walk before Miller tripled to give his team a 2-1 lead. Widman and Larson followed with singles and runners were at first and third base and another run scored. Longoria hit a slow dribbler to the left side of the infield for a single to score another run for a 4-1 lead. Giese doubled to right field to score another Crookston run. Jackson Demarais slugged a line drive to the left-center field gap for a two run scoring triple and a 7-1 lead. The hit parade continued as Nate Kelly hit a bloop single to shallow center field to score a run followed by an infield single from Ashton Shockman. After a strikeout, Miller singled to score another run for a 9-1 lead. Widman hit a line drive to the third baseman and the ball was booted and another run scored for a 10-1 lead. Larson added another single to score a run for an 11-1 lead. Longoria hit a line drive to centerfield and the ball was dropped to allow another run to score and bases were loaded. Demarais was hit by a pitch to score another run for a 13-1 lead with one out. Nate Kelly singled to score a run before the next batter struck out to end the inning with Crookston leading 14-1.
FOURTH INNING
Crookston’s Caden Ames came into pitch the fourth inning and struck out all three batters he faced and Crookston won the game 14-1 in four innings.
Crookston wins the 10th game in a row and will host Fosston on Thursday at Jim Karn Field. Middle River remains winless on the season.
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1
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2
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3
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4
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R
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H
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E
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Middle River
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1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
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Crookston
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1 | 0 | 13 | x | 14 | 12 | 2 |
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Pitching
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IP
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H
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R
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ER
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BB
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K
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| Tanner Giese-Crox | 1.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| Parker Kelly-Crox | 2.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Caden Ames-Crox | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Alex Bray-MR | 2.1 | 11 | 14 | 9 | 1 | 5 |
| Sawyer Torgerson-MR | 0.2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
For Crookston-
Jackson Demarais-2 for 2, 3 rbi, run
Nate Kelly-2 for 2, 2 rbi, run
Lucas Miller-2 for 3, 3 runs, 2 rbi
Ashton Larson-2 for 3, 2 runs, rbi
For Middle River-
Eizen Olson had the only Middle River hit.
