It didn’t come in the postseason, but Ely’s American Legion team avenged a pair of heartbreaking defeats to defending substate champion and perennial power Esko.
Senior pitcher and high school all-stater Louie Panichi dominated on the mound, and Post 248 rode both Panich’s pitching and a nine-run outburst in the third inning to a 14-2 road victory Tuesday night.
It was the fourth straight win for Post 248, which is off to an unbeaten start this summer.
Panichi kept Esko’s potent bats in check, firing a three-hitter with nine strikeouts.
His only trouble came in the bottom of the third, when after a long layoff he walked the first two batters he faced. Both would come around to score.
But by then, Ely had built an 11-0 lead and was on its way.
Post 248 sent 15 batters to the plate in the third, with both Marolt and Panichi lacing two-run doubles.
Sean Merriman and Hunter Halbakken both added run-scoring hits in the frame, which was aided by five walks and four wild pitches.
Senior shortsop Caid Chittum added two hits and scored twice for the winners, while both Panichi and catcher Ben Leeson also scored twice.
• Ely scored eight first-inning runs in a 17-2, five-inning thrashing at Grand Marais on June 13 Chittum stoked a red-hot offense, going four-for-five with four runs scored and two RBI, while Leeson also collected four hits and drove in three.
Panichi was three-forfour with three runs scored and two RBI, and Merriman finished with three hits and three RBI.
That was plenty of support for winning pitcher Hunter Halbakken, who was efficient while tossing a two-hitter with four strikeouts.
