Sports

by Tom Coombe -

2018 ELY LEGION TEAM after the DQ Classic Championship game. Back row, left to right: Frank Ivancich, Dylan Kienitz, Bryce Longwell, Matthew Schultz, Gage Merhar, Carter Gaulke, Trea Stickler, Trevor Mattson, Tom Coombe. Front row, left to right: Mitchell Peterson, Zach Anderson, TJae Banks, Tyler Housey, Thomas Montana, Nils DeRemee. Not pictured: Jacob Towley, Ryan Quick, Luke Olson, Brett Rosendahl.

by Tom Coombe -

by Tom Coombe -

CLOUD OF DUST - A Virginia runner was called safe at second as Gage Merhar applied the tag Tuesday night at Veterans Memorial Field. Ely won the American Legion game 8-2. Photo by Eric Sherman

STATE MEDALIST James Schwinghamer and Ely head coach Will Helms. Submitted photo.

by Tom Coombe -

The jerseys are the same and the age level is nearly identical, yet Ely will make a major switch when it comes to youth baseball this weekend.
That’s when for the first time in community history, Ely will field a Junior Legion team.
Junior Legion has replaced VFW as the middle level of Ely’s summer baseball program, and the team makes its debut with this weekend’s ’Zup North Realty Classic.
Eight teams, including host Ely, will take part in the three-day event that wraps up Sunday at Veterans Memorial Field.
Like VFW baseball, Junior Legion is largely for players age 16 and under, but a few 17-year-olds make the cut thanks to a Jan. 1 cutoff date.
Across the state, Junior Legion is taking off, particularly for small-school programs such as Ely’s.

by Tom Coombe -

by Tom Coombe -

One baseball season in Ely is winding down while another is set to start.
As the high school baseball playoffs (see related story) continue, the summer baseball season in Ely is moving forward on several fronts.
The Ely Baseball Association will hold its annual parent and volunteer sign-up session Monday, with team practices soon to follow and the first summer baseball tournament of the year on tap next weekend.
Ely’s Junior Legion team will host the ‘Zup North Realty Classic, an eight-team, three-day event that opens Friday, June 8, at Veterans Memorial Field.
With the summer season fast approaching, registration continues and culminates Monday.
That’s when summer sign-up wraps up at the EBA session, slated for 6 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Field. All parents are invited to come to return registration forms and sign up for volunteer shifts in the concession stand and ticket booth.