The Crookston Pirate Baseball team scored 12 runs in their final three at-bats and beat the Park Rapids Panthers 16-9 in a Section 8AA matchup at the Jim Karn Baseball Field. “We are trying to manufacture some runs, and I was really happy with the way we continued to score runs,” said Pirate Coach Mitch Bakken. “Our pitchers threw strikes, and it was a good game.”
The leadoff batter for Park Rapids reached on an error but was retired on a fielder’s choice before the next two batters popped out to the shortstop.
Crookston got on the board in the bottom of the first inning when Gunner Gunderson led off with a singled and advanced to second base on a steal. After a lineout, Ethan Boll tripled to score a run for a 1-0 lead. “He is a batter that goes with it, and he went the opposite way,” said Coach Bakken. “We want him to put the ball in play and run as he did there.”
Park Rapids responded with a run in the top of the second inning when Jaxon Lund singled. He advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt. Nick Michaelson singled to score a run to tie the game at 1-1.
Crookston answered right away in the bottom of the second inning when Cade Coauette led off with a walk and later scored on a wild pitch. After the next two batters were retired. The Pirates got a two-out rally going when Gunderson singled, Jacob Miller tripled to score a run, and Ethan Boll singled in a run for a 4-1 lead. “Jacob is seeing the ball well, and he has a really nice swing,” said Coach Bakken. “He can drive the ball, and this is a great time to have him seeing the ball well.”
Park Rapids answered with three runs in the top of the third inning. Isaiah Olson reached on an error and stole second base. Brody Hagen walked, and Ethan Eischens reached on the second Pirate error of the inning. The next two batters grounded out and a run scored on each at-bat. The third run of the inning scored on a wild pitch, and the Panthers tied the game at 4-4.
Park Rapids took the lead in the top of the fourth inning when Michaelson singled, and after an out, he scored on a double by James Hortig for a 5-4 lead.Â
Crookston, once again, had an answer when George Widman singled and stole second base. After an out, Jacob Miller was hit by a pitch, and Ethan Boll singled to load the bases. Ashton Larson followed with a two rbi singled to give the Pirates a 6-5 lead. Cade DeLeon walked, and Boll stole third base and scored on an error, and Larson scored on a wild pitch for an 8-5 lead after four innings. “Once we got on our baserunning was the difference,” said Coach Bakken. “I don’t know how many times we stole third base, and that was huge. Ashton had a big hit for us in the inning, George Widman gave us a big spark, and he is one of those players that can get the energy level higher for us.”
Park Rapids added a run on a hit and a couple of ground outs in the fifth inning before Crookston answered with four more runs. Widman was hit by a pitch, Gunderson walked, Miller reached on a fielder’s choice, and bases were loaded with one out. Boll knocked in a run on a sacrifice fly, Widman scored on a wild pitch, Larson knocked in a run when he reached on an error, and a few batters later, he scored on another error to give the Pirates a 12-6 lead. “We manufactured some more runs in the inning, and we took advantage of an error,” said Coach Bakken. “We were aggressive.”
Park Rapids wasn’t going to go down without a fight as they scored three runs in the top of the sixth inning while recording five hits. The defensive play of the game was on the second out of the inning when Crookston’s Gunderson fielded a ball in mid-centerfield and threw a strike to home plate, and Pirate catcher Jacob Hesby caught the ball and applied the tag to get the Park Rapids baserunner at home and save a run from scoring. “Gunner made an outstanding throw, and it was on a line and came down perfect,” said Coach Bakken. “Jacob made a nice catch and tag to get the out, it was a nice play.” Park Rapids was able to get within a 12-9 deficit.
Crookston responded with some insurance runs in the bottom of the inning. Jacob Hesby led off with a walk, Widman was hit by a pitch again, and Gunderson singled to score a run. Widman stole third base and scored on a wild pitch, Gunderson scored on a Boll fielder’s choice for a 15-9 lead. Boll stole second and third base and came into score for a 16-9. “We crowd the plate a little bit when we need to and we are getting a couple hit batters per game and if that is what we need to do to get things going,” said Coach Bakken.Â
In relief, Ashton Larson shut the door on Park Rapids striking out the first batter he faced in the seventh inning. The second batter singled, but Pirate catcher Jacob Hesby fired a laser down to second base and Jacob Miller (the shortstop) tagged out the Panther baserunner on a stolen base attempt for the second out. “Jacob had a heads up play to throw a strike to second base,” said Coach Bakken. “He threw a perfect ball and Jacob had a great tag. That was a nice play.”Larson didn’t need any help with the next batter as he struck him out on three pitches and Crookston won the game 16-9. “Ashton settled in with the last batter of the sixth inning,” said Coach Bakken. “He really pitched well in the seventh and that was great to see.”
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
| Park Rapids | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 11 | 3 |
| CROOKSTON | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | – | 16 | 10 | 4 |
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
| Jack Doda – Crox | 5.2 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| Ashton Larson – Crox | 1.1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
For CROOKSTON
Gunner Gunderson – 3 for 4, 4 runs, 3 stolen bases, rbi
Ethan Boll – 3 for 4, 3 rbi’s, 2 runs, triple
Ashton Larson – 2 for 4, 2 runs, 2 rbi
For Park Rapids
James Hortig – 3 for 4, 2 rbi
Ethan Eischens – 2 for 4, 3 runs, rbi
Nick Michaelson – 2 for 4, run
