sports

WARROAD SWEEPS CROOKSTON BASEBALL IN DOUBLE DIP IN CROOKSTON

May 10, 2022

The Crookston Pirate Baseball team led 6-2 after two innings of play, but the Warroad Warriors battled back to beat Crookston 9-8 in the first game, and the Warriors scored nine runs in the first inning and cruised to a 10-1 victory in game two while sweeping a Section 8AA doubleheader played in Crookston.

GAME ONE
Warroad didn’t have a good start to the game as their first two batters were retired. Evan Grover, the third batter in the lineup, got things going when he was hit by a pitch and stole second base. Matt Hard singled to score a run and advanced to second on a wild pitch, and moved to third on a wild pitch. The next batter, Landon Thompson singled to score another run and the Warriors took a 2-0 lead.
Crookston responded in the bottom of the inning when Gunner Gunderson singled and advanced to second on an error. George Widman singled, and after a strikeout, Crookston’s Brooks Butt singled to score a run. Ethan Boll followed with an rbi single, and Jackson Demarais followed with an rbi single to give Crookston a 3-2 lead. “That was a big answer for us,” said Pirate Coach Scott Butt. “We were making good contact and taking good cuts at the plate and it was good to see it from several guys.”

In the bottom of the second inning, Austin Trinkle led off with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Blake Melsa blasted a line drive to the gap for a double that scored Trinkle for a 4-2 lead. Gunderson followed with a single to score Melsa and Widman followed with a single to score another run to give the Pirates a 6-2 lead after two innings of play. “Again it was everybody in the lineup coming up with big hits,” said Coach Butt. “Blake hit the ball well and that was great to see from our number nine batter.”

Both pitchers settled in, and nobody scored in the third or fourth innings. In the top of the fifth inning, Warroad’s Jack Jones singled and advanced all the way to third on back-to-back wild pitches. After an out, Jones scored on an Evan Grover sacrifice fly to get the Warriors within a 6-3 deficit.

Warroad bounced back with more runs in the top of the sixth inning when Jacob McFarland reached on a fielder’s choice, Kannon Hoffman reached on an error, and the two scored on a Kasen Peitruszewski double to bring the Warriors within a 6-5 deficit.

In the top of the seventh inning, Warroad’s Liam Grover was hit by a pitch. After an out, Hard reached on an error, Landon Thompson walked to load the bases. The next batter, McFarlane walked to score to tie the game at 6-6. The next batter struck out for the second out of the inning and the bases were still loaded. Murry Marvin-Cordes hit a ground ball back to the pitcher, but the throw to first brought the first baseman off the bag, and everyone was safe while another run scored for an 8-6 Warrior lead. The next Warroad batter, Pietruszewski walked to score another run, and Jones followed with an infield single to score another run for a 9-6 lead. “We struggled late,” said Coach Butt. “We didn’t finish like we need to.”
Crookston battled back with a leadoff double that was lost in the sun by the Warroad right fielder. Ethan Boll followed with a triple to the right-centerfield gap to score a run and bring the Pirates within a 9-7 deficit. Jackson Demarais grounded out to the shortstop, but Boll scored from third to bring the Pirates within a 9-8 deficit. Cade DeLeon walked, and after a strikeout for the second out of the inning with the next batter popping out to the third baseman and Warroad finished the come from behind 9-8 victory. “We fought back in the bottom of the inning, but it wasn’t enough,” said Coach Butt. “It was disappointing because we led 6-2 early and didn’t hold on for the win.”

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Warroad	2	0	0	0	1	2	4	9	7	1
Crookston	3	3	0	0	0	0	2	8	14	3

Pitching	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K
Alex Longoria – Crox	6.0	5	5	3	4	6
Austin Trinkle – Crox (LP	0.1	0	4	1	3	1
Spencer Ness – Crox	0.2	1	0	0	1	1
Jacob McFarlane – War (WP)	6.0	12	6	6	1	2
Evan Grover – War (S)	1.0	2	2	2	1	1

For CROOKSTON
Brooks Butt – 4 for 4, 2 runs, 2 doubles, rbi
Ethan Boll – 3 for 4, 2 rbi, 2 runs, triple, double
Gunner Gunderson – 2 for 4, rbi
George Widman – 2-4, rbi

For Warroad
Matt Hard – 2 for 4, 2 runs, rbi
Jack Jones – 2 for 5, rbi, run
Landon Thompson – 1 for 1, 3 walks, rbi

GAME TWO –
Warroad broke the game open in the top half of the first inning when the first nine batters all scored for a 9-0 lead. Jack Jones started things off with a double, Liam Grover singled in a run, Evan Grover walked, Matt Hard singled to score another run for a 2-0 lead. Landon Thompson walked, Jacob McFarlane singled to score a run, Brock Thompson struck out but reached on a wild pitch and another run scored. Murray Marvin-Cordes singled, Kason Pietruszewski walked, Jack Jones walked, and Liam Grover grounded out to score another run. Several runs scored on wild pitches, and Warroad led 9-0 after the first half-inning of the game. “Obviously, that wasn’t the way we wanted to start the game,” said Coach Butt. “We struggled to find the strike zone and when we did they hit the ball.”

Warroad added another run in the top of the second inning when Matt Hard led off with a walk, stole second base, and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Landon Thompson followed with a walk, and Jacob McFarlane was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Brock Thompson singled to score a run and give Warroad a 10-0 lead.
Crookston responded in the bottom of the second inning when Brooks Butt singled and advanced to third on a Cade DeLeon single, and runners were on the corners. Jack Doda followed with a single to score Butt, and the Pirates trailed 10-1 after two innings. “That was great to see Jack get the hit and rbi,” said Coach Butt. “He has been working hard in practice and it paid off in that at bat.”

Spencer Ness came in to pitch the final four innings while only allowing one run on four hits in a great relief performance for the Pirates. “We might have found a new starting pitcher tonight,” said Coach Butt. “Spencer pitched a great game for us. He was solid and we will have to look at him a little more down the road.” On the other side, Warroad’s Liam Grover was solid while going all five innings and only gave up one run on four hits, striking out nine batters for the win. “He pitched very well,” said Coach Butt. “He had us guessing the entire game.”

Crookston drops to 1-4 on the year and they travel to Roseau on Thursday and on way home Badger/Greenbush-Middle.