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Strong pitching and a potent offense have made for a winning combination for Ely’s American Legion baseball team.
Post 248 won its third straight game to open the season Monday, cruising 10-0 at International Falls.
Senior Brecken Sandberg blanked the host Broncos in the Eighth District, five-inning affair, limiting the hosts to just two hits while striking out six.
Ely got all the runs it would need in the top of the first inning, scoring four times.
Caid Chittum singled in Louie Panichi to put his team on top, while a bases loaded walk, a passed ball and an error led to three more runs.
Base hits by Chittum and Erron Anderson led to two second-inning runs and the rout was on, with Ely also capitalizing on walks and errors.
Panichi, Chittum and Anderson all had two hits for the winner. Each also scored twice. Senior Elliot Levens also doubled and scored two runs.
• Ely hammered Two Harbors 14-2 in a June 14 home clash.
Anderson ripped a tworun double in the first inning and finished two-for-two with two runs scored and three runs bated in.
Levens added two doubles and scored four runs in the victory, while catcher Ben Leeson had two hits with three runs scored.
Panichi doubled and scored twice and Sandberg scored three runs in the win.
On the mound, sophomore Hunter Halbakken worked four innings, scattered five hits and struck out three, and Panichi fanned two in a scoreless fifth frame.
• Post 248 is in the midst of the 36th Annual DQ Grill and Chill Classic this weekend.
S outhwestern Minnesota foe Sacred Heart/MACCRAY took on the host team Friday night, while Saturday’s slate includes games with Kenyon (3:15 p.m.) and Hermantown (7:45 p.m.). A rematch with International Falls closes things out Sunday.
