The West Marshall Fusion scored six runs in the fourth inning to blow the Crookston Pirates away on a windy Thursday afternoon at Jim Karn Field in Crookston.
FIRST INNING
West Marshall’s Blaine Smith would reach on a single, and a wild pitch would allow him to get into scoring position. That would allow Dylan Widner to knock him home with an RBI single to put up the Fusion 1-0. That would be the only run West Marshall would get across, as the Pirates would get a double play to end the top half of the inning.
Crookston would lead off with back-to-back singles from Lucas Miller and Matt Contreras, and the Pirates would have runners on first and third with nobody out. After a strikeout, Gavyn Hlucny would drive a run in on a fielder’s choice to the first baseman to tie the game at 1-1. A groundout to short would end the inning tied.
SECOND INNING
Nick Winge reached on an error to lead off the second. He came around to score off a Derek Moehule sacrifice bunt, and the Fusion led 2-1. Crookston’s Blake Melsa got out of the jam, with a strikeout and a popout to the catcher Greyson Ecker to strand two runners on for the Fusion.
The Crookston bats were quiet in the bottom of the second, as West Marshall’s Moehule would sit the first two batters he faced with strikeouts. Parker Kelly would line a ball up the middle that struck Moehlue. Moehule would remain in the game and would get another strikeout to end the inning, stranding Kelly on third, who had stolen second and advanced to third on a passed ball. The Fusion led 2-1.
THIRD INNING
West Marshall got a one-out single from Winder and, after a stolen base, was in scoring position. A Carsen Safranski grounder up the middle looked like a base hit that would bring Winder home, but the Pirates’ shortstop, Matt Contreras, dived and popped up with the throw to get the out and keep the runner at third. Blake Melsa came up with a timely strikeout to keep the Fusion off the board.
Crookston led off with a walk and a hit batter to have runners on with no outs. A fielder’s choice would get the lead runner out at third, and the Fusion would get out of the jam after a pop-out to short and a ground-out to second, and the score would remain at 2-1.
FOURTH INNING
The first Fusion batter ground out, followed by a walk and another groundout. With two outs, West Marshall started a six-run rally. Another walk had runners at first and second before a Blair Potucak single scored one run. Blaine Smith followed with a two-run single before Dylan Widner hit a deep shot to center field for an RBI triple. Widner scored on the play after a throwing error to third. The Fusion were hitting it in all the right places, as three more singles would score another run, with Rylan Andevson picking up the RBI. Melsa’s day was done, and Parker Kelly would come in, allowing a walk before picking up the strikeout for the final out. West Marshall jumped out to an 8-1 lead.
Crookston had a two-out single from Parker Kelly, who was stranded at second after a stolen base after another Moehule strikeout ended the inning.
FIFTH INNING
The Fusion were retired in 1-2-3 fashion.
Crookston would get one run back after Matt Contreras was hit by a pitch. Contreras would steal second and third before being knocked in by a Greyson Ecker single. The Pirates rally would end there, with the next two batters being retired to end the inning with Crookston down 8-2.
SIXTH INNING
West Marshall’s Nick Winge hit a two-out double before being knocked in by a Andevson single to make it 9-2. The next batter struck out to end the inning.
Crookston was retired in 1-2-3 fashion.
SEVENTH INNING
West Marshall got a two-out single from Potucak. A walk put runners on first and second before a groundout to pitcher Kelly ended the inning.
Crooksto was retired in 1-2-3 fashion to end the game 9-2 in favor of West Marshall.
Crookston will end the season 5-10. The Section 8AA tournament will start next week, with seedings taking place this weekend. West Marshall improves to 8-4.
CLICK BELOW to hear Coach Jason Cassavant’s comments.
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
West Marshall | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 14 | 0 |
Crookston | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 2 |
Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO |
Blake Melsa – Crox (LP) | 3.2 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 3 |
Parker Kelly – Crox | 3.1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
Derek Moehule- WM (WP) | 4.0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
Ethan Ellerbush – WM | 3.0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
Crookston leaders
Parker Kelly – 2 for 3, 2 stolen bases
Lucas Miller – 1 for 3, 1 stolen base, run, walk
Matt Contreras – 1 for 2, 3 stolen bases, 2 HBP, run
West Marshall leaders
Blaine Smith – 3 for 4, walk, 2 rbi
Dylan Widner – 3 for 5, triple, rbi
Nick Winge – 2 for 3, double
Blair Potucak – 1 for 3, rbi
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