The Crookston American Legion Post 20 Baseball team experienced something special on Friday night, as Matt Contreras tossed an 11-strikeout no hitter, defeating Fertile Post 238 13-0 at Rob Norland Field in Fertile.
FIRST INNING-
Crookston was firing on all cylinders to start the contest. Dexter Janek led off with a single, and after a walk, Greyson Ecker drove them both in with a double to make it 2-0. Then, after another baserunner reached, Cody Demerais hit a two-run double of his own to make it 4-0. Nolan Cassavant drove in the final run of the inning with a single, and it became 5-0 before Fertile got a chance to hit.
Fertile was retired in order on a groundout, a flyout and a strikeout.
SECOND INNING-
Crookston was set down in order in the second on two popouts and a strikeout.
Fertile was also set down in order, this time for the second consecutive inning.
THIRD INNING –
After two quick outs, Crookston loaded the bases with a Cassavant walk, an Isaiah Donarski single and a Tarek Siegle hit-by-pitch, but were unable to score.
Fertile was set down in order again on two strikeouts and a flyout, giving Matt Contreras five strikeouts ij his first nine batters.
FOURTH INNING-
Crookston was able to lad the bases in the fourth on a double and two hit batsmen, and Cody Demerais was able to come through with an RBI singe, giving Crookston a 6-0 lead. The rest of the runners would be left stranded.
Contreras struck out two more in the bottom of the fourth, giving him seven and twelve consecutive batters retired.
FIFTH INNING-
In the fifth, Crookston got two runners on the corners with a throwing error and a walk, and then with two outs, a balk scored the runner at third, giving Crookston a 7-0 lead headed to the bottom of the inning.
Fertile finally got some baserunners in the bottom of the inning, getting a leadoff walk from Caleb Sather and a two-out hit batsmen. Contreras stayed firm, though, getting a popout to end the threat with no damage.
SIXTH INNING-
Crookston got two more runs in the sixth inning, both of which were scored via the wild pitch. Demerais scored after reaching on an error, and Donarski scored on a walk, and then moving all the way to the plate on two separate wild pitches. A strikeout then ended the inning.
Fertile got another baserunner, this time on a two-out error, but Contreras then got a groundout to continue his masterful outing.
SEVENTH INNING-
Just like the first inning, Crookston was able to bat around in the seventh, sending nine hitters to the plate. Contreras hit an RBI triple, more runs scored on a wild pitch and then two came in on a throwing error, giving Crookston a 13-0 lead.
Though Contreras hit and walked another batter, he recorded three strikeouts to end his magnificent day with an 11-strikeout no-hitter!
Crookston improves to 7-6 on the year, while Fertile falls to 2-5.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
| Crookston | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 13 | 10 | 1 |
| Fertile-Beltrami | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
OFFENSIVE LEADERS –
Crookston –
Greysonn Ecker – 2 for 3, 2 2B, 3 RBI
Cody Demerais – 2 for 3, 2B, 3 RBI, BB
Isaiah Donarski – 2 for 3, BB, R
Fertile-Beltrami –
No hits.
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB/HBP | K |
| Matt Contreras-Crox | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 11 |
| Caleb Sather-Fert | 4 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 3 |
| Teegyn Johnson-Fert | 3 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 1 |
