The Crookston Reds offense showed little rust after the holiday break in a 15-5 seven-inning run-rule win over the Park Rapids Esox in a non-League game played at Jim Karn Field in Crookston.
Crookston took an early lead with some help from Park Rapids in the first inning. Will Zimmerman was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning before stealing second base and advancing to third base on a throwing error by the Esox pitcher resulting in the ball reaching right field foul territory allowing Zimmerman to score giving the Reds a 1-0 lead. Park Rapids chased Crookston’s starting pitcher Noah Zimmerman out of the game in the top of the third inning. A leadoff double followed by an error at shortstop put runners on the corners. A walk loaded the bases with two more walks giving the Esox a 2-1 lead. A fourth straight walk grew the visitors’ lead to 3-1 before Sean Minder entered the game in relief. With the bases still loaded and no outs in the inning, Minder picked up a strikeout followed by a groundball double play to end the inning and escape the jam without allowing another run. Crookston battled back in the bottom of the third inning to regain the lead. Sean Minder singled to start the inning before Bailey Schmitz walked to put runners on first and second base. Dave Grabowski singled and an error at second base allowed Minder to score cutting the deficit to 3-2. Matt Morin walked to load the bases for the Reds before Taylor Kenfield walked in a run tying the game at 3-3. A sacrifice fly hit by Mike Hajostek into centerfield plated one run with a second scoring on an error to give Crookston a 5-3 lead. An RBI single for Park Rapids brought the Esox within one run of the Reds in the top of the fourth inning, but once again Crookston countered with runs of their own. Two straight Reds were hit by pitches to begin the game before Bailey Schmitz drove a double plating Will Zimmerman and giving Crookston a 6-4 lead. Dave Grabowski doubled plating two more runs expanding the Reds’ lead to 8-4. An RBI groundout hit by Blake Kavalewski allowed Dave Grabowski to score and finished off the four-run inning with Crookston leading 9-4. Crookston continued its strong offensive showing with two more runs in the fifth inning. Jackson Seibel walked to start the rally before Will Zimmerman blasted a home run to put the Reds up 11-4 followed by an RBI double by Matt Morin growing the lead to 12-4. Crookston added three more runs in the sixth inning including a two-run single hit by Bailey Schmitz to wrap-up the game via run-rule in seven innings with a 15-5 win for Crookston.
The Reds improve to 11-11 overall and will return to the diamond for a Red River Amateur Baseball League game on Sunday in Dilworth against the Raildogs at 3 p.m.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
| Park Rapids | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Crookston | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | X | 15 | 23 | 1 |
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO |
| Noah Zimmerman – CROX | 2.0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 2 |
| Sean Minder – CROX | 5.0 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
Bailey Schmitz puts a ball in play in the first inning
For Crookston
Sean Minder – 3-4, 4 runs
Matt Morin – 3-4, 2 rbi, run
Dave Grabowski – 3-5, 2 rbi, 3 runs
Bailey Schmitz – 2-4, 3 rbi, 2 runs
