The Ely Timberwolves passed their first playoff test - but much more difficult examinations await.
Second-seeded Ely scored at will Tuesday at Veterans Memorial Field, blowing out number-10 Cook County 23-1 in a five-inning thrashing in the Section 7A high school baseball playoffs.
The first 10 Wolves reached base in an eight-run first, and Ely had little trouble improving to 14-8 for the spring.
Ely was slated to meet third-seeded Cherry (11-10) Thursday, after deadline, and the Wolves were playing for a spot in the 7A Final Four, which begins June 2 at Hibbing’s Al Nyberg Field.
The Wolves had two cracks Thursday to advance in the double-elimination tournament, with Carlton and Cook County also alive in the elimination round, and top-seeded South Ridge likely awaiting the survivors at Hibbing.
Cook County had upset Mt. Iron-Buhl 5-0 to reach Tuesday’s game with the Wolves, but the Vikings had nothing left in the tank to take on the Wolves.
Senior pitcher Hunter Halbakken won his eighth straight decision, going just three innings and allowing three hits, allowing both Jack Davies and Kooper Dostert to tune up with an inning apiece.
At the plate, Ely junior Evan Leeson went three-forfive with three runs scored, and Owen Marolt was twofor- four with two r uns scored and two runs batted in.
Freshman Gunnar Skager added a couple of hits for the Wolves, while Tyde Brecke, Grant Chittum and Parker Niskala all drove in two runs each.
• The Wolves closed out the regular season with an 8-2 home win over Two Harbors on May 22, despite getting only three hits.
Numerous walks and hit batters allowed Ely to pile up the runs and take control of the game early.
Davies was in command on the mound for the Wolves. The senior lefty allowed only four hits and recorded four strikeouts to get the win.
Junior first baseman Stig Majerus had two of the Wolves’ three hits, and Halbakken scored twice.
• Marolt fired a two-hitter, didn’t give up a walk and recorded nine strikeouts in a dominant pitching performance May 21 at International Falls.
Ely blanked the Broncos 8-0 and clinched the Iron Range Conference championship as a result.
Ely made the most of its four hits, with Chittum and Brecke both getting run-scoring hits.
Majerus scored two runs and both Drew Johnson and Leeson added hits.
• The Wolves fell 10-9 in the nightcap at International Falls.
Johnson, Niskala and Skager all had two hits for Ely.
