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The Ely Timberwolves’ pitching staff is rounding into form at just the right time but the high school baseball team is still searching for some offensive punch.
Despite yielding only nine runs in five games, the Wolves picked up just two victories in a four-day stretch, including a four-game split in the 10th Annual Veterans Memorial Showcase.
After consecutive 2-1 losses to Warroad and Cherry, Ely bounced back Saturday with a pair of shutouts a 10-0 victory over Cook County and 5-0 blanking of International Falls.
The Wolves struggled at the plate again Monday in a 5-1 loss at Mesabi East, and rain washed out other action prior to deadline.
The difficulties at the plate leave the Wolves with an 8-9 record, and perhaps a road date when Section 7A playoff action begins Tuesday.
At the moment, Ely is ranked fifth among 12 teams in the section and would likely face Littlefork-Big Falls, at Deer River, to open the tournament.
A win would send the Wolves into the double-elimination phase of action and a contest with Deer River the same day.
The tournament continues Thursday with games at Cherry and South Ridge.
Ely finished third in 7A a year ago and was the runner-up in 2022, but the Wolves will likely need to step up at the plate to make another extended playoff run.
Offense was in short supply during the home showcase, particularly on May 17.
Warroad held the Wolves to a single run, spoiling a solid effort on the mound by Ely senior Drew Marolt.
The righthander allowed only one earned run while giving up three hits and fanning four.
Brecken Sandberg singled in a run for the Wolves, but that was all that Ely could put together at the plate.
Circumstances were similar that night in a pitching duel between Ely’s Sandberg and Cherry’s Noah Asuma.
Sandberg struck out 10 while giving up one earned run and four hits in six-andone- third innings of work.
The Tigers scored the go-ahead run on a seventh-inning error and Asuma escaped damage in the bottom half of the frame.
Marolt ripped a run-scoring double for the Wolves and both Caid Chittum and Elliot Levens added hits.
The Wolves bounced back with a pair of wins Saturday with Chittum tossing a two-hitter with 11 strikeouts in a five-inning victory against Cook County.
The junior helped his own cause with two hits and three runs batted in, while teammates Ben Leeson and Deegan Richards both added run-scoring doubles.
Sandberg and Sam Leeson scored two runs each.
In the nightcap, sophomore Hunter Halbakken scattered eight hits and had nine strikeouts over five-and-onethird innings and the Wolves pulled away late for the win.
Marolt had a two-run double, Chittum had two hits including a run-scoring double, and Sam Leeson contributed two hits. Freshman Owen Marolt tripled.
It was Owen Marolt with a strong pitching performance Monday at Aurora, but the Ely offense continued to struggle in a loss to Class AA Mesabi East.
Owen Marolt gave up seven hits while working into the sixth inning.
Chittium had two hits and Levens drove in Ely’s only run with a single.
