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Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

Ely takes two of three in powerful home tourney

Patrick Slack
Posted 5/24/17

ELY - Ely won two of three at its home tournament over the weekend that featured a talented field from across the state.

Ely opened its tournament by defeating Blackduck 11-5 on Friday afternoon, …

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Ely takes two of three in powerful home tourney

Posted

ELY - Ely won two of three at its home tournament over the weekend that featured a talented field from across the state.

Ely opened its tournament by defeating Blackduck 11-5 on Friday afternoon, scoring six runs in the first inning and never looking back.

Joey Pierce pitched five innings of three-hit ball while striking out five to improve to 4-0 on the season, while also chipping in three hits and two runs at the plate.

Mark Killoran added a pair of hits and scored three runs.

Ely returned to the field Friday night, falling 7-2 to Minneapolis South.

The game was scoreless through four innings before Minneapolis South broke through with four runs in the top of the fifth inning, then put the game away with three more runs in the top of the sixth.

Thomas Montana and Luke Olson each had a hit and a run and Killoran picked up a hit and an RBI.

Ely came back to shut out International Falls 4-0 on Saturday in a rain-shortened five-inning game.

Trevor Mattson pitched a four-hit shutout to record his fourth win of the season, helped at the plate by Gage Merhar and Olson collecting two hits apiece.

Ely entered the tournament on the heels of a 15-1 rout at Mesabi East on Thursday, led by multi-hit games from Ryan Quick, Tyler Housey and Killoran.

Jeremiah Kari, Bryce Longwell and Will Davies all added a hit and drove in a run as well.

Dalton Schreffler struck out 10 and gave up only two hits to pick up the win.

The Wolves later fell 7-4 at Eveleth-Gilbert on Monday.

Ely (12-7) entered the final two days of the regular season in the second spot in the Sub-Section 7A North standings.

Ely will open Section 7A tournament play on Tuesday in either Marble or Ely. First-round winners enter the double elimination portion of the tournament, which continues on Thursday in Cohassett and Superior.

“I like the way we are playing as we are moving into the playoffs,” Ely head coach Frank Ivancich said. “Many players have contributed in some way this spring. We are young, but we do compete and have done many little things - get bunts down, move runners over, play pretty solid defense by making a majority of the routine plays - that have won and allowed us to stay in all of our games. 

“If we continue to improve on the mound, being more consistent in throwing strikes, we will be fine and we will have as good a chance as any when playoffs start.”