The Crookston Pirate Baseball team started their season in grand style with a combined three-pitcher no-hitter, a home run and only one defensive error in a 15-0 victory over the Bagley Flyers in a game played in Bagley.
Crookston had a solid start to the game with a one-out Leyton Salentine single, a Brady Butt walk which was followed by a rocket line drive off the bat of Gavin Salem right into the glove of the Bagley shortstop that led to a double play to retire the Pirates, but Pirate Coach Mitch Bakken was happy with the start. “I came back into the dugout and said we are going to be okay if we keep hitting the ball like that,” said Pirate Coach Mitch Bakken. “It was a good start and we were swinging the bat and there wasn’t much you could do on the double play because it was hit so hard.”
Crookston broke the game open in the third inning when Gunner Gunderson and Joe Doda led off with back-to-back walks and after a wild pitch, Gunderson scored on a balk for a 1-0 Pirate lead. Salentine followed with a run-scoring single and Brady Butt hit a deep fly to right field that was caught, but another run scored and Crookston led 3-0. A few batters later, Jade Selzler singled in a run, Brooks Butt followed suit with another run-scoring single for a 5-0 lead and the sixth and final run of the inning scored on an error for a 6-0 lead. “I think a big thing will be getting the leadoff man on and we did in that inning,” said Coach Bakken. “We are going to be aggressive with the team speed we have this year.”
Crookston added some more runs in the fourth inning with Salentine’s third hit of the game and a batter later, Gavin Salem hit a frozen rope over the left field fence for a two-run home run for an 8-0 lead through four innings. “I had no idea it was gone actually. I was running around second because I thought it was going to hit the fence,” said Salem. “It felt great and I knew I was calling my mom right after the game and the ball is going in the case. It was my first home run so that was pretty cool.” Salentine went 3-for-3 in the game at the plate in his first competitive action since he tore his ACL in the middle of the football season in the fall. “It was great to get out here. It has been a long recovery and it is awesome to get out and play some games,” said Salentine. “The recovery was emotionally, mentally and physically tough on me, but I am glad I found a way to get through it and it was nice to be able to play baseball this year and have a good start and make some solid contact today.” Crookston starting pitcher, Joe Doda pitched the first four innings and struck out six batters, only walked one and didn’t give up a hit.
Crookston was retired in order in the fifth and sixth inning and still led 8-0 thanks to the relief pitching efforts of Brady Butt who pitched two innings, struck out four batters, didn’t walk a batter and didn’t allow a hit.
Crookston took any hope of a Bagley comeback away in the top of the seventh inning when they scored seven runs for a 15-0 lead. Crookston started the inning with three walks to Salem, Carter Bruggeman and Jade Selzler to load the bases. Joseph Ramirez, Brooks Butt, Gunderson, and Doda followed with bases loaded walks for a 12-0 lead. Jacob Miller, batting for Salentine, had a run-scoring single, Salem followed with a bases-loaded walk and Bruggeman finished off the scoring with another bases-loaded walk for a 15-0 lead. “I know they were trying to rest some of the arms because they have played a lot of games and have a bunch of games next week too so they ran out of pitching,” said Coach Bakken. “I was happy that all the kids got to get in and did some nice things and we will have some big games next week with Roseau and the Jim Karn next weekend.”
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Crookston’s Bruggeman took the mound and struck out two batters, walked one and didn’t give up a hit to earn the Pirate no-hitter. Crookston pitchers didn’t give up a hit or a run while striking out 12 Bagley batters and only walking two in seven innings. “Three pitchers only walking two and not giving up a hit was impressive. I don’t care what level you are playing at, that is impressive,” said Coach Bakken. “Our defense played well and Carter Bruggeman had a nice play at second base and Cade DeLeon had a nice catch in left field too so it was a good all-around effort.”
Crookston improves to 1-0 on the year and will travel to Roseau for a double-header on Tuesday and you can hear both games on KROX. Bagley drops to 0-5 on the year.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
| CROOKSTON | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 15 | 9 | 1 |
| Bagley | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO |
| Joshua Wilson – Bagley | 6.0 | 7 | 10 | 4 | 8 | 1 |
| Jaden Sunderland – Bagley | 0.1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 1 |
| James Witczek – Bagley | 0.2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Joe Doda – Crookston | 4.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| Brady Butt – Crookston | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Carter Bruggeman – Crookston | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
For Crookston
Leyton Salentine – 3-3, 2 runs, RBI
Gavin Salem – 2-3, home run, 3 RBI, 2 runs, 2 walks
For Bagley
No hits
