ELY- The Ely Timberwolves overcame an early two-run deficit and erupted for six runs in the fifth inning last Saturday to defeat the North Woods Grizzlies 8-3 in a rivalry softball matchup in Ely.
North Woods came out swinging early as Evalyn Thiel launched a solo home run to left field in the top of the first inning to give the Grizzlies a quick 1-0 lead.
The Grizzlies added another run in the second after Zoey Burckhardt doubled and later scored on a Kayla Dougherty single to make it 2-0.
But Ely pitcher Zoe MacKenzie settled in after the early innings and helped keep the Wolves within striking distance. MacKenzie struck out five and did not issue a walk while working around 11 North Woods hits, and Ely’s defense came up with several key plays behind her, including a pair of double plays turned by the Wolves in the second and third innings.
North Woods threatened again in the third after Ella Kruse and Emarie Gibson delivered back-to-back singles, but Ely escaped further damage when Julia Zgonc snagged a line drive at second base and doubled Kruse off second to end the inning.
The Wolves finally broke through in the bottom of the third.
Grace Flynn started the rally with a single before aggressive baserunning helped Ely manufacture two runs. Flynn eventually scored from third to cut the deficit to 2-1, and later in the inning Makenzi Huntington raced home to tie the game at 2-2.
The game remained tied until Ely’s explosive fifth inning.
Flynn again started things with a single before Lucy Oelke moved her to third with a groundout. Peyton Huntington and Makenzi Huntington then worked back-to-back walks to load the bases.
MacKenzie followed with the biggest hit of the game, crushing a double to left field that cleared the bases and put Ely ahead 5-2.
The Wolves kept the pressure on from there.
Courtesy runner Addy Spanier scored on a Julia Zgonc single, Amelia Penke followed with a single, and Zgonc scored on a throwing error as the play continued. Ella Perish capped the inning with a single that drove in a run to give Ely an 8-2 advantage.
North Woods continued battling late and added a run in the seventh when Dougherty delivered an RBI double to score Burckhardt, but MacKenzie closed out the victory for Ely.
Despite being out-hit 11-6, the Wolves used aggressive baserunning, timely hitting, and solid defense to control the game after the early innings.
Burckhardt finished with three hits for the Grizzlies, while Dougherty added two hits and two RBIs.
Kruse also collected two hits for North Woods.
MacKenzie drove Ely’s offense with a double and four RBIs, while Flynn had two hits and scored two runs. Zgonc and Perish each added RBI singles for the Wolves.