Sports

by Tom Coombe
Pitching is part of the core of success for any baseball team, and the Ely Timberwolves rode the efforts of a dominant senior pitcher last spring all the way to the state tournament.
This spring, pitching takes on an even larger focus, both for the Timberwolves and in high school baseball as a whole.
New rules, governing the number of pitches that pitchers may throw, cast an imposing shadow over a 2017 season that started Friday, when the Wolves hosted Two Harbors in one of the earliest-ever season-openers at Veterans Memorial Field.
Ely has won three of the last five Section 7A titles, including in 2016 when Patrick Huisman picked up three pitching wins and two saves during the Wolves’ section tournament run.
But Huisman has graduated, and the new rules make it impossible for anyone to step in and even attempt to match that performance this spring.

Ely sixth graders are champions in the Arrowhead Junior Volleyball League 12s division. The team was undefeated (12-0) all four weeks of tourneys. Pictured are Luna Klingsporn, Madeline Kallberg, Aria Ruoho, Rachel Coughlin, Courtney Eilrich, Audrey Thomas and Kate Coughlin.

Northern MN did well in Arkansas at the Mid-American Indoor Pickleball Championships. Earning gold medals were Charlie Sullivan and Mary Mills.

by Tom Coombe -

An annual spring time event that brought hundreds of people to Lake Vermilion now has a dubious future.
People water skipping on snowmobiles near Trout Lake Portage on Lake Vermilion may face legal consequences after St. Louis County sent out a news release Thursday.
“The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office in conjunction with the MN DNR are issuing a public notice to those that plan on participating in any water skipping activities that this practice will no longer be allowed and those participating will be cited.”
The release lists March 20 as the date when water skipping will no longer be allowed and violators will be cited. That could mean this weekend would be the last time skipping would be allowed.
And it’s not just Lake Vermilion, the release states, “the water skipping events held at this and any other locations will no longer be allowed and violators will be cited.”

by Tom Coombe -

by Tom Coombe -

A furious comeback came up just a little bit short, and the Vermilion Ironmen's state title and national tournament hopes were dashed Saturday afternoon at Coon Rapids.

The community college basketball team trimmed a 12-point gap to one with just a minute to go, but the Ironmen wouldn't score again and Akeem Smith nailed two key free throws to ice Rochester's 81-77 victory in a sloppy but entertaining state semifinal,

Vermilion lost 78-70 to Central Lakes in Sunday's third-place game and finished 18-12 overall.

The Ironmen looked good for half of the semifinal, a rematch of last year's title tilt, and grabbed a 45-39 lead by halftime in part by forcing 10 Rochester turnovers.

Momentum shifted in the second half as VCC coughed the ball up three times and a Malik Jones three-pointer gave Rochester its first lead at 52-50.

by Tom Coombe -

It wasn't pretty, but the Vermilion Ironmen slogged through the mud and emerged late Friday afternoon with a berth in the state semifinals.

A 15-2 run midway through the second half proved critical, and four Ironmen scored in double figures as they outlasted Riverland 82-72 in a community college basketball state tournament quarterfinal at Coon Rapids.

Vermilion, which will meet defending champion Rochester in a 2 p.m. semifinal Saturday, survived a foul-filled contest in which six players were disqualified - three from each side.

Freshman Bradlee Lewis knocked down a three-pointer that capped the game-deciding run and put the Ironmen up 62-52 with eight minutes left. From there, it was the survival of the fittest as the Ironmen never allowed Riverland to get closer than six points the rest of the way.

by Tom Coombe -

TOURNEY CHAMPS - Ely’s eighth-grade team won a tournament at Silver Bay by defeating Lakeview Christian 51-12, Wrenshall 61-18 and Silver Bay 45-10. Top scorers for the day were Will Davies with 43 points and Emmett Faltesek with 31. Pictured are (front. l-r): Joey Bianco, Emmett Faltesek; (back, l-r): Coach Mike Keller, Caleb Janeksala, Will Davies, Brock LaTourell, Jason Kerntz, Riley Bishop, Eddie Prijatel, Jacob Towley, Bryce Fairchild, Max Dean. Photo by Hollee Coombe