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Just last summer, Ely’s American Legion baseball team got to within one game of moving on to the state tournament.
This summer, Post 248 is looking to complete the job.
On the heels of an impressive regular season, which included strong pitching and 17 victories, Ely begins its playoff quest this weekend in the friendly confines of its own ballpark.
Ely will have home-field advantage throughout the Northeast Substate Playoffs, which start today with four games at Veterans Memorial Field.
Post 248 is set to begin at 7 p.m., against either Two Harbors or Cook County, and will need to win at least twice this weekend to make it into the final four of the playoffs, which resume Friday, July 26, also in Ely.
In 2023, Proctor downed Ely 6-3 in the Northeast Substate title game and moved on to the state tournament.
The bulk of Ely’s starting lineup returned this summer and that crew has put together a solid run, one which included several wins against large-school opposition and 3-1 records in both of Post 248’s regular season home tournaments - including last weekend’s Ely Echo Midsummer Classic.
After a disappointing firstround defeat to Warroad, Ely responded with wins against Crookston, Aitkin and Barum- Moose Lake-Willow River.
The last two wins were in walkoff fashion, but Ely was walked off in defeat Tuesday, as host Taconite scored a 3-2, eight-inning victory in the regular season finale.
Ely is joined by Taconite, International Falls, Two Harbors and Cook County this weekend, and Taconite is the only team to score a win against the hosts this summer.
Nevertheless, longtime head coach Tom Coombe is wary as the playoffs begin.
“We can’t afford to look past anyone,” said Coombe. “And you don’t want to fall into the losers’ bracket as its a long way back in a double- elimination tournament. The goal certainly is to win a couple this weekend and be in that unbeaten position when the tournament resumes next weekend, but we will need to pitch well and maybe catch a break or two to do that.”
Pitching has been Ely’s strong suit, with Louie Panichi, Brecken Sandberg, Caid Chittum and Hunter Halbakken giving Post 248 four solid arms.
Sandberg (3-0, 40 strikeouts in 30 innings) struck out nine in Saturday’s 5-4 win over Aitkin, while Halbakken improved to 5-0 for the summer when Ely blew out Crookston 11-2.
Chittum went the distance in Sunday’s 7-6 decision over Barnum-Moose Lake-Willow River and is 3-1 with a 1.75 earned run average.
Panichi may very well be Ely’s ace as the junior lefty has allowed only three earned runs in 23 innings with 31 strikeouts.
“We’re comfortable putting any of those guys out there,” said Coombe. “All bring something different to the table and all have pitched extremely well this summer.” Ely has also been consistent on defense and strong up the middle, with Chittum anchoring the infield at shortstop, Panichi patrolling centerfield when not on the mound and both Sandberg and Ben Leeson providing strength at catcher.
An inconsistent offense vaulted to life against Crookston, when Ely scored nine times in the bottom of the first inning.
Ely is hitting .322 at the plate with Chittum batting a team-high .467, followed by Sam Leeson (.412), Anderson (.406, 26 RBI) and Panichi (.397, 16 RBI).
Post 248 also has shown speed on the bases with 60 steals.
To close the Ely Echo Classic, the hosts scored back-to-back walkoff wins.
Drew Marolt reached on an error, allowing Drew Joh nson to score t he game-winning run in the eighth as Ely beat Aitkin 5-4 before an exuberant Saturday night crowd.
Elliot Levens got the win in relief of Sandberg, and he escaped a jam with the help of Leeson, who picked off an Aitkin runner at third base.
Anderson had a sizzling bat Sunday, driving in the game-winner with a seventh- inning single and finishing with three hits and four runs batted as Ely beat BMW 7-6.
Chittum scattered eight hits and struck out five while going the distance.
• Playoff games are set for 11:30 a.m., 2, 4:30 and 7 p.m. Saturday at Veterans Memorial Field.
Sunday’s lineup includes three more contests at 1, 3:30 and 6 p.m.
The tournament then resumes and two teams from the north will be joined by two of three from the south - Esko, Milaca, and Aitkin - when the tournament final four round begins here July 26. The finals are set for Saturday, July 27 with the champion advancing to the Division II State Tournament at Bird Island, set for Aug. 1-3.
Ely will host the state tournament in 2025.
