The Crookston Pirate Baseball team used solid pitching from Jacob Miller and timely hitting to beat the Barnesville Trojans 7-3 in the final game of the Jim Karn Classic in Crookston. “It was a team effort,” said Pirates Head Coach Mitch Bakken.
Crookston started the scoring in the bottom of the first inning when Gunner Gunderson started the inning with a great at bat while fouling several pitches off before getting a single. Jacob Miller hit a ball through the legs of the Barnesville second baseman and Miller never stopped running and slid into second base. The Barnesville second baseman forgot Crookston had a runner on third and Gunderson sprinted home to score the first run of the game. “I said make a big round, get halfway down and make them make a decision,” explained Coach Bakken. “He’s one of those ballplayers that knows how to play a game and he knows how to play it the right way and he plays it hard.” Brooks Butt grounded out to the third baseman, but Miller scored to give Crookston a 2-0 lead.
After a scoreless second inning, Barnesville took the lead with a three-run top of the third inning.
In the bottom of the inning, Crookston responded with a Miller hit and stolen base before Brooks Butt singled to score a run to tie the game at 3-3.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, George Widman walked and Gunderson doubled to put runners at first and second with nobody out. Jacob Miller hit a chopper through the middle of the field and knocked in two runs as Barnesville fielders were caught sleeping behind second base and the Pirates led 5-3. With two outs, Butt hit the ball to right field to score a run for a 6-3 lead. “8-9-10 pitches in the at-bat and he goes to right field with a perfect line drive… that’s something that will open up the floodgates and spark a team,” said Coach Bakken
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Crookston added an insurance run with a leadoff single from Austin Trinkle. Widman and Gunderson walked to load the bases and Miller hit sacrifice fly to left field to score a run for a 7-3 lead. A batter later, Crookston hit into a double play and the threat was over.
In the top of the seventh inning, Miller struck out the lead off batter but the pitch got away from the catcher and the Barnesville batter reached. Miller got the next two batters to fly out to right field and he struck out the next batter to give the Pirates a 7-3 victory.
Crookston improves to 4-2 on the year and will host Bagley on Tuesday. “We are still learning a lot and it’s a good experience for everyone,” added Coach Bakken. Barnesville drops to 2-6 on the year.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
| Barnesville | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| CROOKSTON | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | – | 7 | 9 | 1 |
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
| Cade Coauette- Crookston | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| Jacob Miller- Crookston | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 |
| Payton Pauna- Barnesville | 5 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 4 |
| Caleb Jablonsky- Barnesville | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
For Barnesville
Travis Affield- 2 for 2, RBI
Peyton Pauna, Asher O’Brien, Ian Bolgrean- One run each
For CROOKSTON
Jacob Miller- 2 for 3, 3 RBI, 3 runs
Brooks Butt- 2 for 3, 3 RBI
Gunner Gunderson- 2 for 3, 2 runs
Cade DeLeon, Ethan Boll, Austin Trinkle- One hit each
