The Crookston American Legion Post 20 Baseball team committed 10 errors while Fertile pounded out 11 hits on their way to a 12-4 victory in a game played at Jim Karn Field in Crookston.
FIRST INNING
Fertile got things going right away. The leadoff batter, Bryer Strem, reached on an error and advanced to second base on a passed ball. Steven Sather singled to score a run for a 1-0 lead. The next batter grounded out before Preston Hanson was hit by a pitch. Kolby Hemmah grounded out, but another run scored for a 2-0 lead. Teegyn Johnson followed with a single through the left side of the infield to score a run for a 3-0 lead.
Crookston’s Lucas Miller led off the bottom of the inning with a walk and scored when Matt Contreras ripped a line drive over the right fielder’s head, and the ball rolled all the way to the fence. The next Crookston batter struck out, but the ball hit the dirt, and the Fertile catcher had to throw to first base to get the out, and Contreras came into score to bring Crookston within a 3-2 deficit.
SECOND INNING
Crookston pitcher Parker Kelly struck out all three batters he faced for a 1-2-3 inning.
Fertile pitcher Kolby Hemmah settled in and struck out the first batter he faced in the inning. The second Crookston batter flew out before the third batter struck out and they were retired in 1-2-3 fashion.
THIRD INNING
Crookston’s Kelly continued to throw strikes and let his defense help him out with a lineout and a groundout before recording a strikeout for the third out.
Crookston was retired in 1-2-3 fashion for the second inning in a row as all three batters flew out. One to left field, another to center field, and another to right field, and Fertile led 3-2 after three innings.
FOURTH INNING
Fertile’s leadoff batter grounded out before Johnson walked and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. The next batter hit a line drive to the shortstop, and the ball hit the baserunner, but it wasn’t called an out, so the Fertile runner, not knowing what to do, was thrown out at third base. The batter that reached on a fielder’s choice was caught stealing for the third out of the inning.
Crookston was retired in 1-2-3 fashion as Hemmah retired 10 batters in a row.
FIFTH INNING
Fertile’s Drew Gullickson led off the inning with a line drive to center field for a single. After a sacrifice bunt and a strikeout, Steven Sather doubled to score a run for a 4-2 lead.
Crookston responded in the bottom of the inning with back-to-back one-out singles by Isaiah Donarski and Cody Demarais. The next batter grounded into a double play, and Fertile got out of the jam with a 4-2 lead.
SIXTH INNING
Fertile’s Preston Hanson led off with a single to left field. The next batter lined out before Johnson hit a hard ground ball up the middle, and the Crookston shortstop misplayed the ball, and a run scored to give Fertile a 5-2 lead.
Crookston tried to get things going in the bottom of the inning with back-to-back walks to Contreras and Blake Melsa with one out. The next batter popped out before Contreras scored on a wild pitch to get within a 5-3 deficit. The next batter popped out.
SEVENTH INNING
Fertile started the inning with an out before Strem singled, advanced to second on an error on the left fielder, and moved to third on a throwing error on the left fielder. Steven Sather singled to score a run for a 6-3 lead, Hanson singled to score two more runs, and Hemmah singled to score another run for a 9-3 lead. Johnson walked, and Tarek Siegle was hit by a pitch before a run scored on a ground out. Sorenson singled to score a run, and another run scored on an error for a 12-3 lead.
Crookston needed nine runs to tie the game and 10 to win the game in the bottom of the inning. The first batter popped out before Donarski walked. Cody Demarais laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Donarski over to second base. Tanner Giese doubled over the left fielder’s head to score a run, and Crookston trailed 12-4.
Crookston drops to 7-5 on the year and will travel to Fosston for a double-header on Thursday starting at 6:00 PM. KROX will have both games on the radio.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
| Fertile | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 12 | 11 | 0 |
| Crookston | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 10 |
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO |
| Parker Kelly – Crox | 6.1 | 9 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| Isaiah Donrski – Crox | 0.2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Kolby Hemmah – FB | 7.0 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Crookston leaders
Matt Contreras – 1 for 2, 2 runs, rbi, walk
Isaiah Donarski – 1 for 2, run, walk
Cody Demarais – 1 for 2
Tanner Giese – 1 for 3, rbi
Fertile-Beltrami leaders –
Steven Sather – 4 for 5, 3 rbi, 2 runs
Preston Hanson – 2 for 3, 3 runs, rbi
Bryer Strem, Kolby Hemmah, Teegyn Johnson, and Drew Gullickson with one hit apiece.
