.jpg)
It’s hard to even count how many times Jerome Debeltz has turned his vehicle left off of Highway 1 and driven to the softball complex on Ely’s eastern edge.
But now, for the Elyite affectionately known as ‘Harm,’ Debeltz will be driving down “Harm’s Way.”
Both the road to the softball complex and the fields there have been named for Debeltz, who has been synonymous with local slowpitch softball for the better part of four decades.
The Jerome Debeltz Fields were formally named Monday, during a brief ceremony prior to the start of on the way to a fourth-place showing, Ely’s top relay finish of the day.
McClelland was also the anchor on a four-by-200 team (Dylan Durkin, Tory Hughley, Wyatt Mattson) that took seventh and a four-by-100 (Larson, Hughley, Mattson) that was ninth.
“Milo anchored all of them which is really tough to do as they come right after each other early in the meet, and he ran a 2:12 in the fourby- eight,” said Helms.
Olson completed a solid junior season and wound up as a triple medalist at sections.
Not only was he part of the four-by-400 relay, but he made the finals in both the long jump (seventh, 18-9.75) and triple jump (eighth, 37-5).
“His long was his personal- best,” Helms said of Olson. “And he had a good day making the finals in both the long and triple.”
Stalmer, Ely’s only senior, had to settle for an 11th-place finish in the 300 hurdles (46.17).
“We’ll have to replace Leo who was the hardest working guy on the team,” said Helms. “He didn’t have a great day, but he came back and had a nice four-by-four in 54 seconds and finished well. We all owe Leo a debt of gratitude.”
Hohenstein also qualified for sections as an individual and wound up 12th in the 1,600 run in 5:16.51.
The 7A meet ended the boys’ track season, one that was dominated by youth in the Ely lineup.
“I was really happy with the season,” said Helms. “We don’t have a dominant athlete but if you can take the four relays we kind of shared the fun. Together we’re stronger. Next year we’ll have a pile of seniors and some very good ninth graders will be moving up. The future is bright and we have a lot of young guys.”
