The Crookston Pirate Baseball team got an outstanding pitching performance from Matt Contreras as they beat the Red Lake County Rebels 9-2 at Les Drechsel Athletic Field in Red Lake Falls.
FIRST INNING
Crookston’s first batter struck out swinging before Matt Contreras walked. After another Pirate strikeout, Greyson Ecker singled up the middle, and the runners advanced to second and third base on a wild pitch. Blake Melsa hit a ground ball and reached on an error, which allowed Contreras to score for a 1-0 lead. Parker Kelly walked to load the bases, but the next batter struck out, and Crookston led 1-0.
In the bottom of the inning, Red Lake County’s Ben Gullinsrud reached on a four-pitch walk. He stole second base, and a few pitches later, he stole third base before scoring on a wild pitch to tie the game at 1-1.Â
SECOND INNING
Crookston’s first batter of the inning struck out before Carter Fee reached on a walk. The next batter flew out to left field before Fee was picked off at first base on a nice move from the Rebel pitcher Gullingsrud, and the score was tied at 1-1.
Crookston pitcher Matt Contreras faced the bottom of the order and struck out the first two batters looking before getting the third batter to strike out swinging for his fifth strike out of the game and the game was tied at 1-1 after two innings.
THIRD INNING
The first Crookston batter grounded out to first base before Lucas Peral walked. The next two Pirate batters were retired.
Red Lake County’s first batter struck out, and the next batter lined out to left field before Brock Seeger singled to left field for the first Rebel hit of the game. The next batter was retired, and the game was still tied at 1-1.
FOURTH INNING
Gullingsrud continued his outstanding pitching as he struck out the first two Crookston batters. After a walk, Gullingsrud struck out the next batter for his eighth strikeout of the game.
Red Lake County made contact in the bottom of the inning but grounded out to shortstop, had a ground out to second base, and a flyout to centerfield and the game was still tied at 1-1 after four innings.
FIFTH INNING
Lucas Miller started the inning with a walk, Contreras singled, and Lucas Perala blasted a line drive to the right-center field gap for his third triple of the season and, more importantly, scoring two runs for a 3-1 lead. Ecker followed with a line drive to right field, and the Rebel’s Brock Seeger made an amazing catch with a Superman dive to get the out. A run scored on a play, and Red Lake County trailed 4-1.
The first Red Lake County batter struck out before Ashtin Fredrickson singled and stole second base. Gullingsrud struck out but reached on an error. Will Gieseke grounded out to the shortstop, but a run scored, and the Rebels trailed 4-2.
SIXTH INNING
Crookston broke the game open in the sixth inning. Isaiah Donarski walked to lead off the inning and advanced to third base on a pair of passed balls. Gavyn Hlucny singled to score a run, Fee walked, and Lucas Miller doubled to score another run for a 6-2 lead. Fee scored on a wild pitch for a 7-2 lead. Perala walked before Greyson Ecker singled to score a run for an 8-2 lead.
The first Red Lake County batter struck out before Blake Breiland walked. Brock Knott reached on an error, but the next two batters were retired and Crookston led 8-2 after six innings.
SEVENTH INNING
Crookston’s Donarski singled to lead off the inning but was out when Hlucny reached on a fielder’s choice. Hlucny stole second base and advanced to third before scoring on an error for a 9-2 lead.
Crookston’s Contreras continued his outstanding pitching performance as he struck out the first batter of the inning for his 12th strikeout of the game. Contreras got the next batter to hit a deep fly ball to center field as Miller hit the afterburners and made a tremendous running catch for the second out of the inning. Crookston made a pitching change and brought in Donarski, who got the batter to pop out to the first baseman in foul territory, and Crookston won the game 9-2.
Crookston improves to 1-1 on the year and will host Fertile-Beltrami on Tuesday. Red Lake County drops to 1-2 on the year and will host BGMR on Tuesday.
CLICK HERE for Matt Contreras’ post-game comments
For Crookston Coach Ben Parkin’s comments, CLICK HERE
CLICK HERE for Red Lake County Coach Chris Nelson’s comments
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1
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2
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3
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4
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5
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6
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7
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R
|
H
|
E
|
|
| Crookston | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 9 | 7 | |
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Red Lake Co.
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1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
FOR CROOKSTON –
Greyson Ecker – 2 for 4, 2 rbi
Lucas Perala – 1 for 3, 2 rbi, triple, run
Lucas Miller – 1 for 3, 2 runs, rbi, double
Matt Contreras – 1 for 3, 2 runs, 2 walks, rbi
Gavyn Hlucny – 1 for 3, 2 runs, rbi, walk
Isaiah Donarski – 1 for 3, run, walk
RED LAKE COUNTY-
Brock Seeger – 1 for 2, hit by pitch
Ashtin Fredrickson – 1 for 3, run
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Pitching
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IP
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H
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R
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ER
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BB
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SO
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| Matt Contreras-Crox (WP) | 6.2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 12 |
| Isaiah Donarski-Crox | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ben Gullingsrud-RLC | 4.0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 8 |
| Blake Breiland-RLC (LP) | 2.0 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 3 |
| Ashtin Fredrickson-RLC | 1.0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
