Mother Nature continues to be an obstacle for the Ely Timberwolves, but Silver Bay proved to be an even more difficult foe.
The Mariners ran their record to 13-1 in a low-scoring affair and upended Ely 4-2 in a battle of Section 7A high school softball powers on the North Shore.
On a day when the teams faced not only each other but a brisk wind and temperatures in the 30s, Silver Bay got the upper hand.
Rated second in the section, the Mariners rode the pitching of junior Berkley Hoff.
The ha rd- th rowing righthander went the distance, scattered nine hits and recorded 10 strikeouts.
Two were back-to-back to end the game in the top of the seventh, after the Wolves put two runners aboard with one out.
Hoff settled in and got strikeouts against the heart of Ely’s batting order to close things out.
The Wolves took a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the fifth, when Silver Bay erupted for all for of its runs.
Two hits and an error closed the gap to 2-1, and the Mariners then strung together three straight hits - all with two outs - to take a 4-2 lead.
Ely stranded one runner in the sixth and two more in the seventh and the Mariners escaped.
Zoe MacKenzie went the distance, allowing nine hits and striking out five while walking only two.
At the plate, MacKenzie had two hits and Ella Perish singled and scored a run.
Junior Amelia Penke doubled a run home for the Wolves and Makenzi Huntington singled and scored.
The season is winding down quickly for the Wolves, who hosted International Falls and Chisholm after deadline.
The final week before the Section 7A playoffs starts Monday with a home game against Mt. Iron-Buhl. The Wolves also host both Two Harbors (12:30 p.m.) and Greenway (4:30 p.m.) Friday.
• MacKenzie kept Mesabi East in check during Monday’s 4-2 victory over Mesabi East.
She struck out six while tossing a five-hitter, giving up single runs in the third and seventh frames.
Ely pulled ahead in the bottom of the fourth. After singles by MacKenzie and Amelia Penke, Lindi Zemke stepped to the plate and blasted a triple to right field. Both MacKenzie and Penke scored, while Zemke came around to score on an error.
Ely added an insurance run in the fifth on singles by Lauren Anderson and Peyton Huntington. Pinch runner Lucy Oelke scored the run on a wild pitch.
• The Wolves downed North Woods 5-1 in an April 30 game at Cook.
MacKenzie again got the pitching win, going the distance on a four-hitter with seven strikeouts.
At the top of the Ely order, Peyton Huntington went two-for-three with three runs scored and Makenzi Huntington singled, scored and drove in two from the number-two spot.
