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Ely’s American Legion baseball team may have scored its most impressive victory yet on Tuesday night.
Post 248 used its tried-and-true formula of excellent pitching and defense with just enough offense to stun Division I Hibbing 6-3.
The host Hornets are one of the leading contenders for a state tournament berth among the area’s larger-school Legion clubs, but they fell victim to Division II Ely, which won its fourth straight contest and improved to 13-3 for the summer.
Senior Brecken Sandberg didn’t yield a run and allowed only one hit with six strikeouts through three innngs, and junior Caid Chittum was nearly effective in relief.
Chittum earned the win, allowing just two seventh-inning hits while fanning three.
Ely scratched out single runs in the second and third, with the benefit of only one hit, and put the game on ice with a four-run seventh inning.
Louie Panichi doubled to start the rally and Elliot Levens drew a bases-loaded, one-out walk to put Ely ahead 3-1.
Chittum’s infield single extended the lead to three and senior Sam Leeson lifted a two-run single to right to make it 6-1.
That was more than enough cushion and Ely survived a seventh-inning error, which led to two unearned runs, to knock off the heavily-favored Hornets.
“That was a quality, quality win,” said Ely Head Coach Tom Coombe. “Hibbing has a very talented team, with a couple of college-age players and a couple others who are heading off this fall to play college baseball. But Brecken set the tone early by pitching well and Caid came in behind him and did an outstanding job... It was as big of a win as we’ll have all year.” The win figures to provide a boost of confidence as Ely heads toward the start of the Division II Northeast Substate Playoffs, which begin in Ely on Saturday, July 20.
“We get the benefit of being at home for the playoffs, and that will help as we look to put together a run,” said Coombe. “We’re one of a few teams with a shot to win it, but things will have to fall into place and we’ll need a break or two.”
Ely lost to Proctor in the Northeast Substate title game last summer, but Proctor jumped up to the Division I level this year.
Both Taconite and International Falls will look to join Ely as a contender from the north, while Esko, Mora, Aitkin and Milaca come from the south to make for a balanced field.
The playoffs are set for July 20-21, 24, 26 and 27, all at Veterans Memorial Field, with the champion moving on to the Division II State Tournament Aug. 1-3 at Bird Island.
Ely will host the state tournament in 2025.
• Ely ripped 14 hits, including four by Panichi, in Monday’s 12-3 victory at Two Harbors.
Panichi was four-for-five with two doubles, two runs scored and three runs batted in, while Erron Anderson went three-for-three with two runs scored and three RBI.
Sandberg added three hits to the barrage and Levens chipped in with two.
Drew Marolt knocked in a run with a sacrifice fly and Drew Johnson doubled and scored.
On the mound, Panichi pitched two scoreless innings with three strikeouts, while Hunter Halbakken and Ben Leeson finished up.
