The Crookston Pirate Baseball team finished the regular season with its fourth straight victory as they scored 11 runs in the first two innings and cruised to a 13-0 victory over the Ada-Borup/West Cougars in five innings at the Tony Sipe Baseball Field in Ada.
Crookston’s first batter of the game struck out, but the next seven batters reached. Jacob Miller drew a walk, Ethan Boll singled, and Cade DeLeon walked to load the bases. Carter Bruggeman singled to left field to score Miller and Boll for a 2-0 lead. Cade Coauette singled, and Jacob Hesby singled to score a run and bases remained loaded. Austin Trinkle was hit by a pitch to score a run for a 4-0 lead. The next batter hit into a fielder’s choice and a Pirate was forced out at home for the second out of the inning. Gunner Gunderson walked to score another run for a 6-0 lead to start the game. “We took advantage of some walks, had some nice hits and even scored a run on a hit by pitch,” said Pirate Coach Mitch Bakken. “The line up from top to bottom helped us produce some runs and get the early lead.”
Crookston had another big inning in the top of the second. Boll led off with a double, and after a ground out, Bruggeman singled to score a run for a 7-0 lead. Coauette walked, and Hesby was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Trinkle was hit by a pitch to score a run. The next Pirate batter struck out, but Gunderson walked to score another run for a 9-0 lead. Miller helped his cause with a single to score two runs for an 11-0 lead through two innings. “Again, we had guys throughout the lineup getting hits and getting on anyway they could,” said Coach Bakken. “We took advantage of our opportunities and we have done a great job of that the last few weeks.”
Jacob Miller was tough on the mound for the Pirates as he limited the Ada-Borup/West baserunners in the first two innings. In the third inning, the Cougars had bases loaded with two outs and he got a big strikeout to get out of the jam. “Jacob pitched a great game for us today,” said Coach Bakken. “He threw strikes and his curveball was working well and kept them guessing most of the game.”
In the fourth inning, Miller only faced three batters and all three grounded out for a 1-2-3 inning.
Crookston added some insurance runs in the top of the fifth inning when Cade DeLeon and Jack Doda singled. DeLeon scored on a wild pitch for a 12-0 lead. Coauette reached on an error, Justin Lindgren walked to load the bases and George Widman was hit by a pitch to score a run for a 13-0 lead.
After a leadoff walk in the bottom of the fifth inning, Miller got the next two batters to ground out and stuck out the final batter to give Crookston a 13-0 victory in five innings. “I am very happy with the win and how we finished the regular season,” said Coach Bakken. “They came out and won the final four games and they are playing much better. They are playing with some energy and it is the right time to be putting it together.”
The win evens Crookston’s record at 9-9 and they will travel to Thief River Falls for the first round of the Section 8AA playoffs on Tuesday, June 1.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | R | H | E | |
| CROOKSTON | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 13 | 12 | 1 |
| Ada-Borup/West | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| IP | H | R | ER | BB | K | |
| Jacob Miller – Crox | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| C. Spaeth – ABW | 1.1 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 1 |
| D. Korel – ABW | 3.2 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
For CROOKSTON
Carter Bruggeman – 3 for 3, 3 rbi, 2 runs
Ethan Boll – 3 for 4, 2 runs
For Ada-Borup/West
B. Jorgenson – 2 for 3
