REDS GO 2-1, FALL TO #2 SARTELL IN ELROSA ELITE 8 CHAMPIONSHIP

The Crookston Reds Amateur Baseball team rode a four-run first inning to victory Saturday morning in a 6-2 opening round win over the Long Prairie Predators in the Elrosa Elite 8.  In the semifinals, Lars Brevik hit a two-run home run and Owen Ellefson threw seven innings without an earned run in a 2-1 win over Elrosa to send the Reds to the Championship game.  In the Championship, the Reds played a solid game but were unable to get anything going offensively in a 4-0 loss to the #2 ranked team in Class C, the Sartell Muskies. 

Game 1 - 

Long Prairie opened the game with the first run when Duane Miller reached on an error with two outs in the top of the first.  The next batter Tim Zastrow doubled to right center scoring Miller from first and the Predators led 1-0. The Reds would answer with a big home half of the inning with the first three batters reaching.  Jacob Butcher and Owen Ellefson singled and Noah Zimmerman walked to load the bases.  Following a strikeout, Matt Morin hit a broken-bat single to center to score two Butcher and Zimmerman with Ellefson advancing to third and Morin to second on the throw to the plate giving Crookston a 2-1 lead.  Lars Brevik followed with a ground ball to short the would score Ellefson but the throw to first sailed wide and Brevik was thrown out attempting to reach second which allowed Morin to score making it 4-1 after one inning. "We took advantage of an opportunity in game one this morning," said Manager Rob Silvers.  "We were able to get a hit through and then manufactured a couple of additional runs. 

Ben Barlage would reach on an error to open the second inning advancing to scoring second base on the errant throw to first.  A groundout to second moved Barlage to third before a ground ball Noah Koltes got through the left side to score Barlage cutting the lead to 4-2.  Reds starting pitcher Jacob Butcher would bear down from there allowing just two of the final nineteen batters to reach base.  "Butch threw a great game," said Silvers.  "He worked the strike zone effectively and kept hitters off balance."

Crookston would add insurance runs in the fifth and sixth inning.  In the fifth, Ellefson reached on an error and scored from first on a double to right center by Bailey Schmitz to make it 5-2.  In the sixth, back-to-back walks put runners on first and second before pinch runner Aaron Butcher stole third to put runners on the corners.  Blake Kawlewski singled to score Aaron Butcher and the Reds led 6-2 before Jacob Butcher sent the Predators down in order in the seventh.

With the win the Reds advance to the semifinals in the Elrosa Elite 8 and will play the host Elrosa Saints at 8:00 p.m. Crookston improves to 7-6 on the year.

For Crookston
Matt Morin 1-3, 2 RBI
Bailey Schmitz 1-3, 2B, RBI

For Long Prairie
Tim Zastrow 1-3, 2B, RBI
Noah Koltes 1-3, RBI

Game 2 - 

In the semifinals of the Elrosa Elite 8 Crookston's Owen Ellefson and Elrosa's Ethan Vogt delivered a spectacular pitchers duel to the delight of fans in Elrosa.  Ellefson allowed just one hit through the first four innings and Vogt allowed no hits and walked one. 

Matt Morin led off the fifth with a bunt single to break up the no-hitter and Lars Brevik hit the next pitch over the right-center field wall for a 2-0 lead.  "Matt asked before his at-bat if it was wrong to bunt and it wasn't.  It was a 0-0 ballgame and we still had three innings to try to get a lead," said Silvers.  "They weren't expecting it and then Lars hit an absolute blast on a line drive the very next pitch." In the home half of the inning, Elrosa would load the bases with one out for Derek Wiener who hit a sacrifice fly to right field to make it 2-1 before Ellefson was able to get Brandon Roelike to ground out to end the inning.  

Ellefson would slam the door shut in the sixth and seventh striking out five of the final six outs.  "We had two great pitching performances today," said Silvers.  "Owen had great intensity and we found a way to get him enough runs to win against a very tough pitcher." 

With the win the Reds improve to 8-6 and will play the #2 ranked team in Class C the Sartell Muskies in the Championship game Sunday at 4:00 p.m.

For Crookston
Lars Brevik 1-2, HR, 2 RBI, BB, K
Matt Morin 1-2, R

For Long Prairie
Derek Wiener 1-3, SAC, RBI

Game 3 - 

The Muskies took the lead in the third inning when Adam Schellinger was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and moved to third on a single by Andrew Deters.  Two batters Tim Burns lifted a popup down the left field line for a sacrifice fly that was caught by the shortstop scoring Schellinger to make it 1-0.  

In the fourth inning, Jace Otto hit a one-out triple to right center and scored on an RBI groundout by Cody Partch to make it 2-0 Sartell.  The Reds threatened to score in the bottom of the eighth inning with Noah Zimmerman on second and two outs.  Bailey Schmitz singled to left and a perfect throw to the plate cut down Zimmerman attempting to score keeping it 2-0 heading into the fifth.  "We were playing a very tight ball game against a very good team," said Silvers.  "They are ranked #2 for what that's worth but are widely considered one of the best in the state.  We needed to take a chance with two down and the left fielder made a perfect throw to end the inning." 

Schellinger led off the fifth with a solo home run giving the Muskies a 3-0 led.  Deters would follow with an infield single that bounced off second base before Ethan Carlson doubled to center scoring Deters from first to make it 4-0.  "Overall Matt and Lars did a great job shutting down a very talented lineup," said Silvers.  "They hit the ball all over the park in every game this weekend and to hold a team like that to a four-spot gave us a chance."

The Reds best opportunity to score the rest of the game came in the fifth when Matt Morin led off with a single.  Following a popout, Silvers grounded into a double play to end the inning and the Muskies went on to win 4-0. 

The Reds fall to 8-7 on the year and will travel to Ada on Wednesday for a 7:30 p.m. game.  

For Crookston
Matt Morin 1-3
Bailey Schmitz 1-3

For Long Prairie
Adam Schellinger 1-2, HR, RBI
Jace Otto 2-2, 3B, R