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Ely baseball runs record to 6-1
Caid Chittum’s hot bat, together with effective pitching, proved to be a winning combination for Ely’s high school baseball team.
The Timberwolves rattled off three home wins in as many days, running their record to 6-1 this spring A 5-1 victory over Deer River on April 24 was followed by consecutive 9-2 decisions against North Woods and Cook County the following two days at Veterans Memorial Field.
Heavy rains prevented the Wolves from squaring off against section runner-up South Ridge in what was to be an early-season showdown in Ely, and the Wolves had time to regroup after a busy slate.
“Three consecutive game days certainly took a toll on us as we committed seven errors in our last two games,” said Ely Head Coach Frank Ivancich. “We need to do a better job of taking care of ourselves both mentally and physically with a grind of playing consecutive game days.”
While Ely may have been run down at the end of its busy run, there was no slowing down Chittum.
In his last five contests, the senior shortstop has collected 10 hits, including four doubles, with 11 runs batted in.
That included a couple of doubles and four RBI against Cook County in a Saturday matinee.
Junior Jack Davies picked up his first pitching win of the spring, fanning nine batters and yielding five hits before giving way to senior Ben Leeson.
Leeson also ripped three hits and scored three times, while Drew Johnson also scored three runs with three stolen bases and a hit of his own.
The day before, sophomore Owen Marolt tossed a four-hitter and struck out eight in the win over North Woods. Marolt only walked two while gaining his second win of the spring.
Chittum scored two runs and had two hits for the winners while sophomore Tyde Brecke added two hits with two RBI. Another sophomore - Stig Majerus - added a hit and two RBI.
Talen Jarshaw took the loss for the visiting Grizzlies despite recording eight strikeouts. He also paced North Woods on offense with two hits.
• Ely downed Deer River 5-1 as junior Hunter Halbakken posted his third consecutive pitching win.
Halbakken tossed a three-hitter and wound up with eight strikeouts.
Johnson helped stoke the Ely offense with three hits and two runs scored, and Chittum had two hits and a run batted in.
Sean Merriman added two more hits to Ely’s attack.
• The Wolves’ busy week ahead starts with a Monday trip to Mesabi East, with Thursday’s home game with Chisholm to follow.
Ely will meet Red Lake County and host Blackduck at the May 10 Blackduck Tournament.
