The Crookston Pirate Baseball team scored at least one run in all but one inning on their way to an 8-4 victory over the Red Lake County Rebels in a game played at Jim Karn Field in Crookston. “I thought the kids did a lot of good things,” said Pirate Coach Scott Butt. “They battled and found ways to score runs.”
Red Lake County came out swinging in the top half of the first inning. Carson Erickson led off with a single, Peyton Fish followed with a single. Crookston pitcher Jack Doda struck out the next two batters before Owen Chervestad singled in a run to give Red Lake County a 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the inning, Crookston’s Gunnar Gunderson and George Widman singled. Alex Longoria walked to load the bases. Brooks Butt hit a pop fly in foul territory that was caught by the Rebel first baseman, and Gunderson saw nobody was covering home plate and scored to tie the game at 1-1. Ethan Boll hit a high flyball to centerfield that was caught, but it was deep enough for Widman to score for a 2-1 lead. Jackson Demarais reached on an error that allowed another run to score, and Crookston led 3-1. “To get the crooked number was big there,” said Coach Butt. “I thought Gunnar and George did a nice job and were patient and to get the bat on the ball with a couple of sacrifice flies was nice too.”
In the bottom of the second inning, Crookston added two more runs while only recording one hit in the inning. Widman started with a walk and a stolen base before Alex Longoria singled. With runners at first and third, Crookston had a double steal to score a run for a 4-1 lead. Longoria came into score on an error for a 5-1 lead through two innings. “I was happy with the way the guys found ways to score runs and getting on base was big,” said Coach Butt.
Red Lake County responded with a big third inning when Carson Erickson walked, Peyton Fish singled and Ty Kennet walked. Erickson scored on a wild pitch, Fish scored on a wild pitch and Kennet scored on a Will Gieseke single and the Rebels trailed 5-4.
In the bottom of the inning, Crookston’s Austin Trinkle walked and Blake Melsa singled. Trinkle came into score on an error and Crookston had a 6-4.
In the bottom of the fourth inning Crookston added another run without getting a hit. Longoria walked, stole second, and advanced to third on a pass ball. Longoria scored on an Ethan Boll sacrifice fly for a 7-4 lead through four innings. “Getting the extra bases was big for us today with stolen bases, wild pitches,” said Coach Butt. “Alex is such a table setter and he can do so many things for us.”
Crookston added another run in the bottom of the sixth inning when Longoria tripled and Brooks Butt singled to score a run for an 8-4 lead and the Pirates held on to win the game 8-4. “That was a huge insurance run to put us up by four runs and we were a little more comfortable,” said Coach Butt. “Jack Doda did a great job of battling on the mound for us and that was huge. Justin Lindgren gave us two innings of relief and I liked what I saw from him too. It was a good win and nice to have before we have to play six games next week.”
Crookston improves to 1-2 on the year and will travel to Roseau for a double-header on Monday starting at 4:00 p.m. KROX will have both games on the radio.
Red Lake County drops to 1-4 on the year.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
| Red Lake County | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 3 |
| Crookston | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | – | 8 | 6 | 1 |
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
| Jack Doda – Crox | 5.0 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 |
| Justin Lindgren – Crox | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Peyton Struthers – RLC | 4.0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Blake Breiland – RLC | 2.0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
For CROOKSTON
Alex Longoria – 2 for 2, 4 runs, 2 walks, 2 stolen bases
George Widman – 1 for 3, 2 runs, 3 stolen bases
For Red Lake County
Peyton Fish – 2 for 4, run
