If the first weekend of play was any indication, the Ely Timberwolves baseball team will have some growing pains this spring.
Retooling after the graduation losses of all-state shortstop Caid Chittum and all-conference catcher Ben Leeson, and dealing with injuries early in the 2026 season, the high school baseball team struggled out of the gate in souther Minnesota.
Kenyon-Wanamingo rallied to top the Timberwolves 8-7 in the April 10 opener, while state-ranked Hayfield and Blooming Prairie both scored solid wins the following day.
Ely fell 13-3 at Hayfield and dropped a 9-5 decision to Blooming Prairie.
The Wolves’ usually strong pitching staff had some struggles, issuing 24 free passes over the course of three games.
Ely opponents also ran the bases at will and took advantage of numerous Timberwolf errors.
Nevertheless, the Wolves nearly beat Kenyon-Wanamingo and had opportunities against Blooming Prairie.
Junior Stig Majerus hit a solo home run and classmate Owen Marolt went three-forfour as the Wolves took a 7-3 lead against the Knights.
But that advantage evaporated late as the hosts tied the game in the bottom of the sixth and won it in the seventh with the aid of three walks and a hit batter.
Four Ely errors in the matchup proved costly as well.
Sean Merriman ripped a two-run double for the Wolves while Hunter Halbakken, Grant Chittum and Jack Davies all finished with two hits.
On the mound, Halbakken worked six innings, scattering eight hits and striking out four. Merriman took the loss in relief.
Saturday, Hayfield scored four runs in the bottom of the first on just one hit and never looked back.
Hayfield only had six hits, but Ely pitchers walked seven and errors again were costly.
Marolt took the loss and pitched four innings, and Drew Johnson came on in relief.
At the plate, the Wolves were held to four hits - two by Marolt. Evan Leeson doubled and Chittum had the other hit.
Both Halbakken and Drew Johnson had two hits at Blooming Prairie, and Marolt knocked in a couple runs.
The Awesome Blossoms countered with nine runs on 10 hits, with leadoff man Griffin Stalock scoring four times, stealing six bases and collecting a couple of hits.
Carsten Ingvalson had two hits including a home run and his younger brother Brayton went three-for-four.
Davies started and gave up 10 hits for the Wolves.
Ely was set to take on both Silver Bay and Littlefork-Big Falls in a split doubleheader on Friday at Veterans Memorial Field.
