Sports

It’s a step back in time tonight at Veterans Memorial Field.
About 20 former Ely American Legion baseball players will don the red, black and white for a night of fun with the seventh annual Ely Legion Baseball Alumni Game.
The contest is set to begin at 6 p.m. at the local ballpark.
Teams will be divided prior to the exhibition game, and the organizers say the focus is on fun and sharing old memories.
“We’re excited that so many of our former players are coming back to participate,” said Tom Coombe, head coach of Ely’s Legion team. “We’ve had the game the last few years, and scheduling was a bit more difficult this year because of the state tournament coming up and so many other tournament weekends at our ballpark. This was more of a last minute decision but we decided to move forward with it.”

In less than two weeks, Minnesota’s top small-school American Legion baseball teams will be in Ely.
And they’ll be bringing family, friends and fans.
The community is sure to be abuzz with baseball fever for the Division II State Tournament, set for Aug. 2-4 at Ely’s historic and recently revamped Veterans Memorial Field.
The countdown is on to the ballpark’s first state tournament in six years and the festivities begin in earnest Thursday, Aug. 1, when all eight teams gather for check-in and photos at the ballpark during the afternoon and a banquet in town that night.
About 150 players and coaches are expected to be joined by hundreds of others, including parents and officials, relatives and community members following their respective teams to state and filling the town.

The Jumpin’ Jehosafats have been blending traditional jazz and Gospel for more than 25 years, raising money for charity and lifting spirits. The men and women of this group play a total of thirteen instruments - horns, piano, drums, strings and flute among them - as well as sing together.
Based in the Twin Cities, the band includes two Elyites: Suzanne Mades on flute, and Elton Brown on tuba.
The Jumpin’ Jehosafats will be playing on the Whiteside Park bandshell on Wednesday, July 31, at 7 p.m. This toe-tapping free concert is a gift to the community from the Ely United Methodist Church (where the concert will be held in case of rain). Free will donations will be given to “Young Life” Youth Ministry in Ely.

Sammy Richter didn’t know what to expect when he broached the subject of bringing professional wrestling to Fortune Bay Resort Casino.
After all, Fortune Bay was synonymous with bringing outdoor concerts to the area and professional wrestling was never really considered.
However, that all changed in the summer of 2018 when Richter got the approval to bring Fortunebaynia to the big stage. The success of that inaugural event has led to Fortunebaynia2, which Richter promises to be even better than the original.
Some of the star power signed on to play a part in the festivities is Sting, Booker T, Ultimo Dragon, Super Crazy, Honky Tonk Man, Demolition, Air Wolf and King Leonidas. Everyone’s favorite villain Jimmy “The Mouth from the South” Hart will also be part of the show as will Minnesota’s very own, Madusa. There will be many top-notch wrestlers from the Midwest taking the ring once the bell is rung Sunday, July 28th at 5 p.m.

Curt Johnson from Ely got lucky and made a hole in one on Thursday, July 11. The hole was number seven at the Ely Golf Course, he used an eight iron from 118 yards.

On Wednesday July 10 at the Ely Golf Course, Tom Cherne from Edina MN got a hole in one on number four from 165 yards using a seven iron.

by Tom Coombe
Two new winners were crowned this year at the four-mile race that kicks off Ely’s Fourth of July Celebration.
Joseph Minor was the overall winner and Megan Falconer the first female to cross the finish line at the Janet Gensler Memorial Four on the Fourth.
Minor completed the morning race around the Trezona Trail in 21:04, while Falconer, who was 15th overall, had a time of 27:05.
The event doubles as a fundraiser for Ely’s high school track teams and attracted more than 200 participants.
Taking second place overall was Mick Schwinghamer in a time of 21:07 while Luke Olson of Ely, a state track champion in the 800 meter run, took third in 22:45.
Other age group winners were:
• Boys, 10-12: Otto Devine, 33:27;
• Boys, 13-15: Gabriel Pointer, 24:45;
• Men, 20-29; Schwinghamer, 21:08;
• Men, 30-39: John Zak, 26:22;
• Men, 40-49: Jay Asmus, 26:13;
• Men, 50-59: Doug Kleemier, 25:51;

by Tom Coombe
While Ely’s high school baseball team fell a game shy of the state tournament, one of its top players earned state recognition.
That was senior Tyler Housey, who landed a spot on the All-State Class A Team, as picked by the Minnesota High School Baseball Coaches Association.
The award follows a brilliant senior season and a spectacular high school career for Housey, a four-year varsity starter.
This year, Housey helped lead the Wolves to 19 wins and a runner-up finish in Section 7A.
There were few better hitters in Class A baseball than Housey, who ripped 45 hits in 95 at bats, good for a sizzling .479 average.
Housey reached base 54 percent of the time, scored 28 runs and drove in 25 - both team-highs. He also swiped 11 bases and had 10 extra-base hits.
On the mound, Housey went 3-1 with 33 strikeouts in 28 innings pitched.

The Northeast Range Trap Team traveled to Alexandria on June 13 to compete in the Minnesota State High School Clay Target League Championship.
The nine-day event boasts being the worlds largest trapshooting competition and invites were open to just over 12,000 Minnesota athletes this year.
With 19 trap houses spread out over the course of a mile, teams that have competed online all spring finally came face to face to compete.
Each day of the competition features a conference and attendance averages about 1000 athletes per day and triples in attendance with spectators.
Opening ceremonies began with USA Clay Target League President John Nelson telling the crowd that, “In Minnesota, the state of hockey, trapshooting now has more participants than boys and girl’s hockey combined and continues to grow.”

by Tom Coombe
Ely’s high school baseball team has three all-conference honorees.
Seniors Tyler Housey and Trevor Mattson were repeat selections to the All-Arrowhead Conference Team, and they’re joined by Ely junior Dalton Schreffler.
The trip formed the heart of an Ely team that finished second in the conference, won 19 games and came within one game of a state tournament berth, falling to South Ridge in the Section 7A finals.
Housey, who moved to centerfield in his senior campaign, was one of the area’s hottest hitters, batting at a torrid .479 clip with 45 hits in 94 at bats, including 10 doubles. He also paced the Wolves with 25 runs batted in and swiped a team-high 11 bases, while also going 3-1 on the mound.
Mattson was one of the aces of Ely’s pitching staff.