ROSEAU USES 2 BIG INNINGS TO BEAT PIRATE BASEBALL IN SECTION TOURNEY

The Crookston Pirate Baseball team battled, but Roseau scored four runs in the fifth inning to expand their lead, and the Rams held on for a 7-4 victory in the first round of the Section 8AA Baseball tournament at Gilbertson Field in Roseau.

FIRST INNING
Crookston’s first two batters were retired before Alex Longoria singled to left field to start a two-out rally. Ethan Boll popped up to the shortstop, and the ball was dropped, and the Pirates had runners on first and second base. George Widman followed with a single to left field to score Longoria, and Crookston led 1-0.
Roseau responded in the bottom of the inning. The leadoff batter ground out to third base before Cooper Flaig drew a walk, and Aaron Wensloff (future UMC Baseball player) laid down a perfect bunt along the third base line for a single. The next batter Tanner George, hit a fly ball to right field, and it was dropped allowing one run to score. Eli Wenslof followed with a single to right field to score two runs, and the Rams took a 3-1 lead.

SECOND INNING
Both teams were retired in 1-2-3 fashion, and Roseau held on to their 3-1 lead after two innings.

THIRD INNING
The third inning looked to be promising for Crookston with a leadoff single from Teagen Lubinski and a walk to Carter Coauette. The next batter, Blake Melsa was called on to bunt, and he popped up to the catcher and was out. On the contact, Lubinski took off towards third base and was doubled up at second base for two outs. Longoria followed with a single, and Coauette tried to score but was tagged out at home for the third out.
Roseau had a threat with runners at first and second base before Gavyn Hlucny retired the next batter to get out of the minor jam.

FOURTH INNING
Crookston’s Ethan Boll led off the inning with a single and stole second base. Widman walked, and the two runners advanced to second and third on a wild pitch. Boll scored on another wild pitch to bring the Pirates within a 3-2 deficit. The next batter was retired before Hlucny hit a hard ground ball to the shortstop, and Widman tried to score and was thrown out for the second out of the inning. The next batter was retired, and Crookston trailed 3-2.
In the bottom of the inning, Roseau’s Jack Haugen led off with a single before Jake Halvorson tried to lay down a bunt and was thrown out at first base. The baserunner tried to advance to third base on the throw to first, and Crookston’s Lubinski fired a strike to third base, and Longoria applied the tag for a double play. The next batter grounded out, and Roseau led 3-2 after four innings.

FIFTH INNING
For the third straight inning, Crookston’s first two batters reached safely. This time it was Lubinski getting hit by a pitch and Coauette walking. Blake Melsa hit a sacrifice fly to advance Lubinski to third base, and a few pitches later, Coauette stole second base to give the Pirates runners at second and third with one out. Longoria was batting with a two-ball and two-strike count when the game was stopped because of a lightning delay. The first pitch after the delay was a strike for a strike out and the second out of the inning. Boll was intentionally walked to load the bases, and a pitch hit Widman to tie the game at 3-3. The next Pirate batter struck out.
Roseau countered with four runs in the bottom of the inning. The leadoff batter reached on an error before a pitch hit Aaron Wensloff before the first out. Eli Wensloff had a bunt single, and Chase Bachleitner singled to score two runs for a 5-3 lead. AJ Klint walked before Jack Haugen reached on an error to score another run. Jake Halvorson grounded out to score another run for a 7-3 lead.

SIXTH INNING
With one out, Crookston’s Jackson Demarais was hit by a pitch before Lubinski singled up the middle. The next two Pirate batters grounded out to first base, and the threat was over.
Roseau had a batter walk with two outs, but the next batter struck out, and Roseau took a 7-3 lead into the seventh inning.

SEVENTH INNING
Crookston’s Longoria led off the inning with a walk, and Boll singled. After a strikeout, Doda reached on an error. Hlucny walked to score a run, and the Pirates trailed 7-4 with one out and the go-ahead run batting. The next two batters were retired, and Roseau held on for a 7-4 victory.

Crookston’s season comes to an end with a record of 4-15. Roseau improves to 13-8 on the year and will play Park Rapids on Thursday in the second round of the Section 8AA tournament.

FOR COACH BEN PARKIN’S POSTGAME COMMENTS, CLICK BELOW-