CROOKSTON PIRATE BASEBALL SWEPT BY WARROAD

The Crookston Pirate Baseball team was swept by the Warroad Warriors 18-4 and 9-5 in Section 8AA games played at Jim Karn Field in Crookston.

GAME ONE
Warroad used a combination of solid hitting and nine Crookston errors to cruise to an 18-3 victory in the first game of the doubleheader.
Warroad struck early with a run in the top of the first inning.
Crookston answered in the bottom of the first inning with three straight hits from Leyton Salentine, Brady Butt, and Gavin Salem before Jade Selzler was hit by a pitch to score a run and tie the game at 1-1.  The next batter hit into a fielder’s choice and Warroad got the out at home for the second out of the inning, but bases were still loaded.  Brooks Butt singled up the middle to score two more runs and Crookston took a 3-1 lead after the first inning of play.  “We had a good start to the game and batted seven in the first inning,” said Pirate Coach Mitch Bakken. “We had some nice hits in the inning and found ways to get on and score some runs.”
The offense continued in the second inning when Warroad scored two runs on two errors and a couple of hits to take a 4-3 lead.  Warroad scored another error on the third Pirate error of the inning for a 5-3 lead.
Warroad added a run in the top of the third inning and added two more runs in the top of the fourth inning when Gage Wilmer tripled in a run and then scored on a sacrifice fly.  Hunter Pelland added another run with a line drive single and the Warriors led 9-3.  Crookston had a threat going in the bottom of the fourth inning and left the bases loaded without scoring a run.
In the top of the fifth inning, Warroad loaded the bases with nobody out.  Crookston retired the next Warroad batter with a strikeout and the ensuing batter hit a sacrifice fly to score a run for a 10-3 lead.
Warroad took any Pirate hope of a comeback away in the top of the seventh inning after scoring eight runs on six hits and one Crookston error to take an 18-3 lead into the bottom of the inning.
Crookston tried to mount a comeback in the bottom of the seventh inning and loaded the bases and scored a run, but that is all they would get and Warroad won the game 18-4.  “We had some really good bats and the pitchers threw strikes like we needed them to,” said Coach Bakken. “Joe (Doda) pitched well and only gave up one earned run and it is tough to win any games with nine errors in the game.”

For Crookston
Brady Butt – 3-4, run
Carter Bruggeman – 1-1

For Warroad
Spencer Musgrove – 3-5, 3 runs, 2 rbi, double
Vance Kleinschmidt – 3-5, 3 runs, 2 stolen bases

GAME TWO
Warroad opened up the second game with a run in the top of the first inning.  Crookston responded with a run in the bottom of the inning when Brady Butt reached on an error, Gavin Salem singled and Butt came into score on an error to tie the game at 1-1.  “Warroad struggled in the field too,” said Coach Bakken. “We were able to take advantage of it and scored a run.  I told the guys to put the ball in play and run hard.”
Warroad added three more runs in the top of the second inning for a 4-1 lead.
In the top of the third inning, Warroad scored again.  With a runner on third base, the Warriors scored on a pass ball to take a 5-1 lead.  The next Warrior batter hit a fly ball down the first base line and the ball fell in fair territory in front of first base and another run scored for a 6-1 lead.  Crookston countered with two runs in the bottom of the inning.  The inning started with a Leyton Salentine hit, Brady Butt reached on an error and Gavin Salem reached on a walk to load the bases.  Brooks Butt hit into a fielder’s choice to score a run and Brady Butt scored on another error and the Pirates trailed 6-3.  “We capitalized and got back into the game, which was nice to see,” said Coach Bakken.
Warroad answered with a run in the top of the fourth inning after a walk, two wild pitches and an error and the Warriors led 7-3.  Crookston added two more runs in the bottom of the inning Jacob Miller singled and Joe Doda reached on an error. Salentine singled to score a run and Doda scored on another error and the Pirates trailed 7-5 after four innings.  “Leyton has been hitting the ball well and actually the whole top of the line up has done a nice job for us all year,” said Coach Bakken. “Jacob Miller had a good game offensively and defensively for us tonight.”
Warroad added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning while taking advantage of three Crookston errors and three hits for a 9-5 lead.  In the bottom of the inning, Crookston had a hit, but that is all they would get and Warroad held on for the 9-5 victory.  “Overall I thought we played well, but we made some foolish mistakes on throws that cost us some runs and we had some errors on pickoffs, but that is what I want the guys to do, keeping the runners close,” said Coach Bakken. “I am happy with the way we played, but the field got in our heads a little bit and it looked like we got a little flustered.”
Crookston drops to 2-6 on the year and will travel to Greenbush on Thursday to play the Badger-Greenbush-Middle River Gators at 4:30 p.m. and you can hear the game on KROX Radio.  Warroad improves to 11-1 on the season.

For Crookston
Leyton Salentine – 2-4, rbi, run
Walker Winjum – 1-1

For Warroad
Vance Kleinschmidt -3-4, 2 runs
Hunter Pelland – 2-4, 2 runs
Anthony Foster – 2-4, rbi
Cade Wallace – 2-4