Sports

by Tom Coombe -

DANCERS - Madelene Johnson, Lauren Porthan, McCartney Kaercher, Savannah Johnson and Katie Lakner.

2017 Eighth District
VFW Baseball Tournament
Sponsored by Zup’s Food Market

Tournament Schedule
Saturday
10 a.m. - Ely - Virginia vs Hermantown
10 a.m. - Soudan - Hibbing vs. West Duluth
12:15 p.m. - Ely - Ely vs. Duluth East
12:15 p.m. - Soudan - Cloquet vs. Grand Rapids
2:30 p.m. - Ely - Winners of two 10 a.m. games
2:30 p.m. - Soudan - Losers of two 10 a.m. games
4:45 p.m. - Ely - Losers of two 12:15 p.m. games
7 p.m. - Ely Winners of two 12:15 p.m. games

Sunday
Elimination Bracket Games, 11 a.m., 1:30 and 4 p.m.
Winners Bracket Game - 6:30 p.m.

Monday
Elimination Bracket Game - 4:30 p.m.
Championship Game - 7 p.m.

Tuesday
Second Championship Game if necessary
6 p.m.

District champion advances to state tournament,
Aug. 10-13 at Willmar

SWINGING AWAY - Luke Olson drove a ball to the outfield during the Ely Legion team’s 6-5 win against Deer River. Photo by Nick Wognum

How tight is at the top of the Eighth District Division II American Legion Baseball standings?
Ely went into the final weekend with a chance to finish anywhere from first to sixth in a nine-team field.
That sort of parity should make for an interesting district tournament, which starts Tuesday with games at both Marble and Nashwauk.
After qualifying for the high school baseball Class A state tournament, Ely faces a much more difficult road in Legion ball with the addition of Class AA schools including Esko, Proctor and Greenway, which forms the Taconite team that is hosting this week’s double-elimination event.
But Ely (9-7) is no slouch, and went into the final weekend of regular season play still in the running for the number-one seed.
Post 248 hosts Taconite Sunday (1 p.m.) to close out the regular season, following Friday night league tilts against both Esko and Deer River.

LITTLE LEAGUE WINNERS were the Indians who beat the Cards 4-2 in the July 7 championship game behind a three run homer and the pitching of Iver Lepisto. Pictured: Front (l-r): Benny Leeson, Ty Walker. Kneeling: Jack Davies, Silas Solum, Brady Eaton, Caid Chittum, Drew Marolt, Back: Blake Walsh, Chase Anderson, Blake Schaller, Sam Leeson, Iver Lepisto. Coaches: Kevin Marolt, Mark Walker and Cory Eaton.

by Tom Coombe
One event, two races, three winners and sunny skies produced a spectacular start to the Fourth of July in Ely.
The Janet Gensler Memorial Ely 4 on the 4th attracted 246 participants, three more than in 2016, and new winners in both the men’s and women’s divisions.
Harrison Hirsch of Vadnais Heights was the overall winner, completing the four-mile run around the Trezona Trail in 22 minutes, 27 seconds.
Hirsch outlegged Santi Ocariz of Rochester to the finish line. Ocariz was the only other contestant to crack the 23-minute mark and was second overall in 22:57.
The women’s title was shared, as high school track teammates Erin Bianco and Ryne Prigge raised their hands as they crossed the finish line in 28:53
The event doubles as a fundraiser for Ely’s self-funded high school track teams, and the Timberwolves were well represented in the annual Independence Day event.

Ely has carved a niche as a destination point for summer baseball tournaments.
But in the storied history of Veterans Memorial Field, no tournament has been larger -at least in number of teams - as the upcoming Sir G’s Midsummer Classic.
An even dozen teams, one larger than last year’s record field of 11, will participate in the American Legion baseball tournament that starts Friday, July 7, both in Ely and Legion Field in neighboring Soudan.
Before the event wraps up with the 3:45 p.m. title game on Sunday, July 9, 25 games will have been held during the 16th annual event.
Not bad for an event that was started in 2002 simply to fill an open weekend on Ely’s American Legion baseball calendar.
In a decade-and-a-half, the Sir G’s Classic has evolved into the largest American Legion baseball tournament in northeastern Minnesota, and one filled with power-packed teams.

by Tom Coombe -

by Tom Coombe -