UPDATE: Ely advanced in the tournament late Wednesday, beating Chisholm 10-0 in five innings.

ELY – Pitching again ruled for Ely as they blanked Littlefork-Big Falls 9-0 on Tuesday to advance in the Section 7A baseball tournament.

Trevor Mattson cruised to his sixth victory of the season and flirted with a perfect game into the sixth inning, when he allowed the only Vikings hit and baserunner of the contest.

“It was a dominant performance on the mound for Ely,” said Head Coach Frank Ivancich.

Ely jumped ahead in the opening inning when Gage Merhar hit a towering two-run homer. The Wolves added runs throughout the game but missed many opportunities.

“We struggled to get a 10-run rule,” said Ivancich. We left the bases loaded in the third, fourth, and fifth innings, failing to get a clutch hit.”

Ely will need those big hits and solid pitching to continue in the playoffs as the competition gets tougher.

Mattson not only performed on the mound but also at the plate, knocking in two runs on two hits. Gage Merhar with the help of his home run led the team with three RBIs.

Ely and Chisholm were set to face off in the next round of the playoffs on Tuesday, but a strong thunderstorm forced the postponement of the game. It was scheduled to be played late Wednesday as the Timberjay went to press.

In their regular season finale last Friday, the Wolves dominated Nashwauk-Keewatin in the second game of a double feature, winning 16-1.

Starting pitcher Dylan Kienitz allowed just one earned run as he struck out six and gave up three hits.

Ely scored early and often as they controlled the game pretty much from start to finish.

Jeremiah Kari, Gage Merhar, and Dalton Schreffler each had two hits while Schreffler also led the team with three RBIs. Will Davies, Lane Anderson, and Kienitz had two RBIs apiece.

In the opener against Hibbing, the Wolves needed a late rally to outpace the Bluejackets, 9-8.

Ely trailed 8-5 to start the top of the seventh. Trevor Mattson led off the inning with his third hit of the game and was driven in on a Thomas Montana single, also his third hit of the game. Cody Davis ripped a double that scored two runs to tie the score. Tyler Housey then connected for a single to score Davis and give the Wolves the lead.

Starting pitcher Carter Gaulke struggled a bit as he pitched the first three-and-a-third innings, giving up all eight runs along with four hits. Merhar got the win in relief going three-and-two-thirds innings and giving up just two hits while striking out three.