Sports

Ely continues to be a destination for major baseball tournaments, including one set for later this summer.
The first-ever American Legion Division II Northeast Substate Tournament will be held at Veterans Memorial Field from Friday July 27 through Sunday July 29.
While the format has not yet been finalized, either six or eight teams will take part in the double-elimination event, including host Ely, others from the Iron Range and Duluth areas as well as two representatives from a western subgroup that includes Park Rapids, Wadena, Walker, Pierz, Crosslake and Crosby-Ironton.
This marks the first season American Legion baseball has moved from a district to substate format, and Ely is one of seven locations across the state to host the first small-school substate events.

Four Vermilion Community College baseball players have won acclaim from the Minnesota Community Athletic Conference, including one who earned a spot on the league’s All-State First Team.
Lukas Adelman, who provided a big bat in the middle of the Vermilion lineup as well as steady defense at shortstop, was named a first team all-stater this week by league coaches.
Adelman, who was also named to the All-Northern Division Team, was joined by fellow freshman Connor Knettel in landing MCAC recognition, Knettel was All-State Second Team.
Knettel and sophomores Dakota Schafer and Clayton Gallus also got honorable mention to the All-Northern squad.
Adelman, a Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley graduate, had a team-high six home runs for the Ironmen while leading the team with a .426 batting average and 30 runs batted in.

by Tom Coombe -

by Tom Coombe
Ryne Prigge has made her mark as one of the area’s best long-distance high school girls track athletes.
The Ely senior held to form Wednesday at Hibbing, overcoming unseasonably warm conditions and taking first in the 3,200 meter run at the Section 7A North Subsection Meet.
Prigge had the Wolves’ only victory, but she’ll have plenty of company at Thursday’s section meet at Duluth.
Teammate Brielle Kallberg had second-place subsection finishes in both the long jump and triple jump and will move on to sections in the 100 dash as well, while seventh-grader Zoe Devine moves on after a second-place finish in the 1,600 run.
Ely’s Lauren Olson, Ande Visser, Evelyn Bercher and Annikka Mattson all won section berths and the Wolves will also advance their four-by-800 relay, after Emma Terwiliger, Bercher, Phoebe Helms and Devine combined to take fourth.

by Tom Coombe -

The summer baseball season in Ely begins in just over a month and the registration is now underway..
Registration forms are now available at Ely Memorial High School from baseball coach Frank Ivancich, or by contacting Tom Coombe at 235-1025 or Tcoombe@aol.com.
Paperwork may be returned to Ivancich at the school and fees will be collected at the Ely Baseball Association’s annual parent and volunteer sign-up night, set for 6 p.m., Monday June 4 at Veterans Memorial Field. All parents are invited that night to sign up for volunteer shifts in the concession stand and ticket booth.
Ely will three teams with the following age cutoffs:
• American Legion - Open to those born on or after Jan. 1, 1999;
• Junior Legion - Open to those born on or after Jan. 1, 2001;
• Junior League (Iron Range Baseball) - Open to those born on or after Jan. 1, 2003.

The Altameja Fundraiser for Vermilion Community College athletics is in its 28th year, and organizers say they’ve lined up an extra special day of fun and activities next weekend.
The golf and fishing outing, named in honor of retired VCC coaches Bob Altavilla and Rudy Semeja, and most recently in honor of former VCC assistant coach and local business owner the late Gary Zaverl, takes place Saturday, June 2 at both the Ely Golf Club and on Shagawa Lake.
Fishing begins at 8 a.m. with golf getting underway at noon with a shotgun start. The fishing contest winds up at 4 p.m. with weigh-ins at the Shagawa Lake landing.
Entry fee is $80 for fishing, $100 for golf or $110 for both events.
Registration includes greens fees, a buffet dinner, beverages, awards, gifts and door prizes, and the event wraps up with a program and karaoke that evening at Zaverl’s Bar.
To register, contact Paul McDonald at (800) 657-3608 or 235-2190.

by Tom Coombe -

by Tom Coombe -

After a long wait, the combined Ely and Northeast Range boys golf team was able to get out on to the links this week.
The golfers started their season at an East Range Conference event in Virginia.
The young team is competing in ERC junior high events, and finished with a team score of 242.
Ty Fabish, an eighth-grader at Northeast Range, had team medalist honors with a score of 50 over nine holes.
Next best in the group was Ely’s Ben Cavalier, who shot a 59.
Kale Beno of Ely carded a 65, followed by Arrin Frank at 68. Ethan Zaitz, who attends NER, rounded out the scoring at 73.
Virginia won the event and the Blue Devils’ Brett Okland and Andrew Peterson shared medalist honors with matching 40s.
The golfers compete again Thursday, at Eveleth, while the junior high girls are slated to take part in a meet Tuesday at Hibbing.