Ely’s Junior Legion baseball team is one win away from a second consecutive state tournament berth.
Two victories Monday one that was close, another was a laugher - put Post 248 in the driver’s seat in the Northeast Substate Playoffs at Veterans Memorial Field.
Ely rallied to top Proctor 5-2 and pounded Cherry 18-2 to gain a spot in Sunday’s title game.
That leads to a rematch with Cherry at 1 p.m. at the home ballpark, with Cherry needing a win in that game to force a decisive second game for the title.
Just one win would put Ely in the State Division II Tournament, slated to begin Aug. 8 at Hayfield.
Trailing 2-1, Ely rallied to defeat Proctor in Monday’s first game.
Evan Leeson’s two-run single was a key blow and the hosts also benefited from walks, errors and wild pitchers.
Hunter Halbakken tossed the first five innings to get the win, yielding two unearned runs while allowing four hits with five strikeouts.
A six-out save went to Owen Marolt, who fanned five batters in two frames.
Arturo Cameron scored twice for Ely and Drew Johnson ripped a double.
An 11-run second inning decided things against Cherry, and Grant Chittum swung a hot bat for the winners.
The freshman catcher ripped four hits including a double and knocked in five runs.
Tyde Brecke added two hits in the second inning and Halbakken doubled and scored twice.
Both Marolt and Majerus scored two runs.
Marolt allowed four hits in three innings and got the pitching win while Cedar Holman finished up, giving up two hits and notching two strikeouts.
Ely went 0-2 in last year’s state tournament and a win would put them in Friday’s quarterfinals at 3 p.m.
