Sports

April 25 Ely Sports Report

Publisher — Fri, 06 Jan 2023 12:09:53 +0000

April 25 Ely Sports Report

Publisher Fri, 01/06/2023 - 13:09

Fans of local sports broadcasts now have a new option to follow area teams.
Ely Echo’s website now features a daily sports report from editor Tom Coombe, and the Echo is exploring internet broadcast streaming for selected games involving Ely High School and Vermilion Community College teams.

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MacKenzie throws no-hitter

Publisher — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 03:00:59 +0000

MacKenzie throws no-hitter

Zoe MacKenzie picks up the bunt and throws down to Amelia Penke (2nd baseman) on 1st. Maija Mattson crouched out of the way. Photo by Deb Zillmer.

Publisher Fri, 04/19/2024 - 05:00

by Tom Coombe

Only a sophomore, Zoe MacKenzie is nonetheless quite at home in the pitching circle.

She gained varsity experience in both her eighth and ninth-grade seasons, and the Ely standout has an at-home garage large enough to hone her throwing skills.

All that time paid off in the Timberwolves’ April 12 season-opener, as MacKenzie tossed her first career no-hitter in a 7-0 win at Mesabi East.

While the Wolves suffered a couple of tough defeats since, both to expected section contenders, MacKenzie’s gem got the Ely season off to a strong start.

“Her game on Friday was great,” said Ely Head Coach Cory Lassi. “She went out and pitched, not just threw. She hit her spots very well and really did an amazing job of mixing her pitches.”

MacKenzie retired the last eight batters of the game and issued only two walks while going the distance.

Mesabi East never got a runner past first base and MacKenzie recorded eight strikeouts.

Ely got all the runs the righthander would need in the top of the second, when both Rylee Larsen and Peyton Huntington reached base and scored.

The Wolves put the contest away with five runs in the top of the seventh

Clare Thomas, Hannah Penke and Ella Perish all had run-scoring hits in the frame, with Penke ripping a triple.

The Wolves erased a 5-0 deficit Monday, coming back to tie Silver Bay at seven before the host Mariners walked it off with a run in the bottom of the seventh.

Perish singled and scored on a Maija Mattson double to tie things up, but the Mariners countered in the home half of the inning, plating the winning run with the help of back-to-back Ely errors.

MacKenzie scattered eight hits and had six strikeouts, but the Mariners were able to plate three runs in the first and two more in the second.

Peyton Huntington’s two-run single capped off a five-run third for the Wolves, while Perish, Amelia Penke, MacKenzie, Mattson and Makenzi Huntington all had hits during the extended rally.

Mattson had a four-for-four day at the plate for the Wolves, who outhit the Mariners, and both Thomas and Peyton Huntington added two hits.

Conditions were miserable for Tuesday’s game on the turf at Mt. Iron-Buhl, and the host Rangers overcame rain, sleet and a brisk wind to down the Wolves 11-3.

Perish and Amelia Penke drove in runs for the Wolves in the fourth inning, while Thomas doubled home Peyton Huntington in the top of the seventh.

The host Rangers, however, erupted early with five runs in the first two innings.

They added five runs in the sixth to help close things out.

MacKenzie gave up 10 hits and notched five strikeouts for the Wolves, who were at Cherry Thursday and have a busy week ahead.

They host Deer River (Tuesday) and Two Harbors (Friday) with an Apr. 25 road date at Chisholm in between.

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Ely pitchers combine on gem

Publisher — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 02:59:30 +0000

Ely pitchers combine on gem

New windscreen has been installed at Veterans Memorial Field.

Publisher Fri, 04/19/2024 - 04:59

by Tom Coombe

Early in the high school baseball season, pitchers often have an advantage over hitters.

That played out in a big way Monday in Ely, where the Timberwolves’ Elliot Levens and Jack Davies combined on a no-hitter in a home opener that wasn’t much of a contest.

The Wolves held visiting Littlefork-Big Falls without a hit and cruised 10-0 in five innings.

The victory evened the Wolves’ mark at 1-1, following a 4-2 loss at Greenway/Nashwauk-Keewatin three days earlier, in a game where Ely struck out 16 times.

Monday, both Levens and Davies kept the Vikings at bay.

The visitors threatened in the top of the first thanks to a hit batter and a couple of Ely errors, and Levens escaped unscathed.

He was aided by a double play the following inning and retired the side in the third, while Davies had little trouble in quiet fourth and fifth frames.

The Wolves, meanwhile, erupted early with two runs in the first and five more in the bottom of the second.

Junior shortstop Caid Chittum, who finished three-for-three with three runs scored, had run-scoring hits in both the first and second innings.

Levens singled in a run in the first, while Deegan Richards had a two-run single in the second and Drew Marolt drove two home with a fourth-inning single.

Ely had nine hits in all, with Levens finishing with two.

Junior catcher Ben Leeson singled in a run and his older brother Sam, a senior, singled and scored once.

The lopsided win eased some of the sting following the loss against GNK, at Nashwauk.

Winning pitcher Austin Anderson and teammates Thomas Vekich, who earned a save, combined on 16 strikeouts and worked into and out of trouble, stranding numerous Ely runners.

The Wolves left 11 men on base during the game, with Drew Johnson collecting two hits and a run scored.

Marolt and Sam Leeson added hits, and Chittum drove in a run.

On the mound, Marolt worked the first four innings, giving up five hits with six strikeouts. He yielded all four runs, but just one was earned.

Chittum tossed two innings of scoreless relief, striking out four.

Ely is in action this weekend on its annual southern trip, taking on Kenyon-Wanamingo Friday and Hayfield Saturday.

A home game follows Monday against Silver Bay.

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Big numbers, better weather

Publisher — Fri, 12 Apr 2024 15:12:12 +0000

Big numbers, better weather

Publisher Fri, 04/12/2024 - 17:12

by Tom Coombe

In some ways, the 2024 high school track season is already better for the Ely Timberwolves than it was in 2023.

Despite a late-March snowstorm, weather conditions this year have been much better than they were a year ago, when the Wolves were unable to compete the entire month of April.

This season is beginning on time, starting with a Thursday event at Chisholm that was completed after deadline.

Both Ely teams have high hopes for the new year and are buoyed by big numbers, with roughly 40 girls participants and 30 boys.

That list includes some impressive returning varsity talent, including defending section discus champion Kaylin Visser and third-place distance runner Molly Brophy, both freshmen, on the Ely girls team.

The girls are led by a new coach, with Jill Ellerbroek moving up from an assistant role last year to take the head position vacated by Eliza Vistica.

Longtime head coach Will Helms is back to coordinate the boys team, which has a slew of returning section qualifiers and several athletes who had big seasons for Ely’s Nordic Wolves.

On the girls’ side, Ellerbroek can build around one of the area’s elite throwers in Visser, who won the Section 7A title as an eighth-grader and finished 11th in the state.

She joins her older sister Sarah, who battled injuries a year ago but was a section triple jump qualifier two years ago, among a host of Wolves with section meet experience.

Ely also returns Brophy, who took third in the section in both the 1,600 and 3,200 runs and has state cross country meet experience.

The girls also bring back the bulk of a four-by-200 relay team that was heavy on youth a year ago, boasting Violet Udovich, Lydia Shultz and Audrey Kallberg.

Senior Grace LaTourell is back after making sections in both the 200 and 400 dash while distance section qualifier Anna Dunn also returns.

Leo Stalmer is the only returning senior for a still young but deep boys team.

“He was a section guy in both hurdles races,” said Helms. “We expect a lot of him. He’s the captain of the team and training the hardest and we expect big things from him.”

Junior Eli Olson is back after reaching the section finals as a triple jumper in 2023.

“Eli has probably got as much potential as anybody on the team to make it to state,” said Helms. “He’s growing into his body and has done some strength training. He’ll be in the long, the triple and maybe the 400 meters.”

Helms will also look to several other juniors to score points in meets. They provide plenty of flexibility for relay placement and can also complete individually.

The group includes Dylan Durkin, Wyatt Mattson, Milo McClelland and Tory Hughley.

“They’re all good experienced track guys,” said Helms.

So too is junior Silas Solum, who was part of a section placing relay team last year and also reached the 7A event in the 800 meters.

Several freshmen also figure into the mix, including Bryan Cook, Caleb Larson, Oliver Hohenstein, Mason Kurnava and Brooks Brenny, and two eighth-graders - Wyatt Devine and Blake Houde - are also in the mix.

The track teams are enjoying what figures to be a much easier season to work with - given the weather.

“Last year we spent all of April indoors,” said Helms. “This is a whole different deal. We will have the first meet of the year where last year we didn’t have a meet in April because of snow and rain. This year we can develop guys at a proper pace.”

Ely Timberwolves

Track - 2024 Schedule

April 11: at Chisholm Early Bird

April 22: at Deer River

April 29: at International Falls Invite

May 4: Doc Savage, at Hibbing

May 9: Belluzzo (Boys) at Chisholm, Tingstad Invite (Girls) at Hibbing

May 14: Iron Range Conf.

at Rock Ridge

May 18: Kerzie Invite at Rock Ridge

May 23: Subsection Meet

at Aurora, 10 a.m.

May 30: Section 7A Meet

at Duluth, 10 a.m.

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Rough start for ’Hawks

Publisher — Fri, 12 Apr 2024 14:55:02 +0000

Rough start for ’Hawks

HEADFIRST SLIDE TO THE PLATE for Vermilion infielder Will Thibodeau (28), who had a big day Wednesday with three hits and four runs batted in as the Ironhawks swept Mesabi. Photo by Mark Sauer.

Publisher Fri, 04/12/2024 - 16:55

The Vermilion Ironhawks need to dig their way out of a deep hole.

That climb back began Wednesday at Aurora, where the community college baseball team swept rival Mesabi 15-0 and 13-5.

For the Ironhawks (11-14), the two wins were badly needed and came on the heels of a disastrous weekend at Thief River Falls, as Northland took four straight games to open Northern Division play.

Vermilion was plagued by bad defense against the Pioneers, but may have righted its ship against Mesabi, going two games without an error.

The Ironhawks also had plenty of offense and strong starts on the mound from freshmen Parker Coach and Jerron Turney, who both went three innings in their respective starts.

Coach held the Norse without a hit in the opener while Turney was nicked for a run in the first but ended his stint by retiring seven straight hitters.

Several Vermilion relievers had solid but brief outings, and the Ironhawks may have built some confidence going into this weekend’s four-game set with Hibbing.

“We badly needed a win and more than that, to just play well,” said head coach Tom Coombe. “Not much went right for us out at Thief River, and we couldn’t let that snowball as we have huge games ahead and we need to fight our way back into contention.”

Vermilion is hitting over .300 as a team and gave its pitcher plenty of run support against Mesabi,

Sophomore infielder DeSoto Hood drove in four runs on a couple of hits, while freshman shortstop Will Thibodeau was two-for-three with two runs scored and two runs batted in.

Sophomore Jack Velasque added two hits and two RBI from the designated hitter spot, and freshman outfielder Landon Wilkins added two hits with two RBI.

After Coach, both Nolan Roode and Nick Berglund fired scoreless innings of relief.

Vermilion exploded for five runs in the bottom of the first to take early control of the nightcap.

Thibodeau had a two-run double and Charlie Spahn added a two-run single during the rally.

Spahn, a sophomore catcher from Milwaukee, connected later on his first career home run, while Berglund ignited a spark at the top of the order and finished three-for-four with three runs scored.

Mason Kostka and Chris Arambula scored twice each for Vermilion, while Franklin Wildes, Jake Palomo and Arambula all had scoreless innings in relief.

Turney, who is from Haxtun, Col, gained his first collegiate pitching win.

• Vermilion had costly errors late in the series opener with Northland, as the Pioneers scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the seventh to take the first game 5-4.

It was a tough-luck loss on the mound for Marcus Haire, who allowed two earned runs and scattered seven hits.

Arambula was three-for-three and Thibodeau finished with two hits for Vermilion.

Northland held Vermilion to four hits, and the Ironhawks had seven errors while losing Saturday’s second game 8-1. Chase Snyder drove in the only run and sophomore Jacob Mickelson was tagged with the pitching loss.

Northland hurler Isaac Mata took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and finished with a one-hitter as the Pioneers took Sunday’s opener 6-0.

Kostka had the only Vermilion hit and Palomo was the losing pitcher.

Northland won the series finale in a 13-9 slugfest, scoring four runs in the final two frames.

Hood drove in three runs for the Ironhawks, Kostka knocked in two and Jake Casazza had two hits and two RBI.

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Studio North kicks off 2024 competition season

Publisher — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 14:13:29 +0000

Studio North kicks off 2024 competition season

Publisher Fri, 04/05/2024 - 16:13

Studio North announces the results from the first competitions of the season. Studio North is a privately owned business located in Ely.

Competition Dancers:

Junior/Seniors: Kiarstin Eaton, Audrey Engen, Chezne Nickolson

Pre-Teens: Anna Cao, River Carter, Brynna Cook, Paige Jussila, Harper Kainz, Hadleigh Myers, Sunny Weissert

Masquerade Dance Competition

Audrey Engen competed as a soloist at the Masquerade Dance Competition, Feb. 14, at the Ames Performing Arts Center in Burnsville, MN.

Results: Jazz Solo - “Strut” - Platinum

Lyrical Solo - “ControL” - High Gold

Gems Dance Competition

The competition competed at GEMS Dance Competition, Feb. 24, at Marshall High School in Duluth.

Jr/Sr Jazz Trio - “Strut” High Gold & 1st Place in Category

Jr/Sr Musical Theater Trio - “Soul Man” - High Gold

Senior Lyrical Solo - “In The Stars” - Chezne Nickolson - High Gold

Junior Lyrical Solo - “Control” - Audrey Engen - High Gold & 3rd Place in Category

Pre-Teen Jazz Small Group - “Dance The Night Away” - High Gold, 1st Place in Category,

Choreography Award

Pre-Teen Musical Theater Small Group - “Wear Your Crown” - High Gold, Costume Award

Pre-Teen Jazz Duet - “Shake It Off” - Brynna Cook & Paige Jussila - High Gold

Pre-Teen Jazz Solo - “My Boyfriend’s Back” - Hadleigh Myers - Platinum, first place in category, top score technique in overall division, second place score in overall division of 135 routines, full day scholarship award

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Devine caps first collegiate ski season

Publisher — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 14:09:56 +0000

Devine caps first collegiate ski season

Publisher Fri, 04/05/2024 - 16:09

A year after winning a state title, Ely’s Zoe Devine made the big jump to the collegiate ranks.

The former Timberwolf was part of the Nordic skiing team this winter at Saint Michael’s College, located in Colchester, Vermont.

She closed out her freshman campaign by leading her team at an event held at Middlebury College.

Devine had the best performance of any Saint Michael’s women’s skier at an event that doubled both as the Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association Championship and an NCAA qualifier.

In a mass start, 18-kilometer classic race, Devine paced the Purple Knights and wound up 28th overall with a time of 1:04:06.6.

At the same February event, held in Ripton, Vermont, Devine was 43rd in a 7.5K freestyle race in 27:58.5.

That same month, at the Williams College Carnival at Prospect Mountain, Devine teamed with two other Purple Knights to place seventh in a three-by-five K freestyle relay. Their time was 50:10.1.

It was the first time Saint Michael’s had a relay as high as seventh place at that event since 1998.

Devine moved on to Saint Michael’s after winning a state championship in her senior season for the Nordic Wolves. She was a three-time all-state honoree and a five-time state qualifier.

Devine was also a standout in cross country and track, advancing to state in cross country four times and winning varsity letters in both sports from her seventh-grade season on.

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Ely trio part of all-star game

Publisher — Fri, 29 Mar 2024 17:29:58 +0000

Ely trio part of all-star game

DRIVE TO THE HOOP for Ely’s Grace LaTourell, who took part in the Iron Range Engineering All Star Game Wednesday night at Virginia. Photos by Mark Sauer

Publisher Fri, 03/29/2024 - 18:29

by Tom Coombe

Three Ely seniors saw their high school girls basketball careers come to an end during the Section 7A semifinals earlier this month.

But the trio had one last chance to be together on the court on Wednesday night.

The venue was the gymnasium at Mesabi Community College in Virginia, home to the annual Iron Range Engineering All-Star Games.

The “home” team that included Ely seniors Grace LaTourell and Hannah Penke beat the “away” squad that had the third Timberwolf - Sarah Visser.

They joined players from Mt. Iron-Buhl, North Woods, Cromwell, Rock Ridge, South Ridge, Hibbing, Duluth Marshall and elsewhere for a competitive yet fun night of basketball.

LaTourell, who finished her prep career with 1,945 points, added 11 more to help her team to an 86-79 win.

Penke added four points and four rebounds to her team’s cause.

Visser, who ended her prep career with a slew of single-season and career records - including over 1,000 rebounds - added five points, six rebounds, two steals and two assists in the contest.

All three Wolves were earlier named to the All-Arrowhead Conference Team and spurred Ely to a 22-7 record this winter.

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Ironhawks experience “snowball”

Publisher — Fri, 29 Mar 2024 17:27:49 +0000

Ironhawks experience “snowball”

WHAT’S THIS? Chris Arambula (24) of Vermilion’s baseball team was in for a surprise when Thursday’s baseball game at Austin continued amid snow showers. Arambula is from Wray, CO, and is the team’s leading hitter. The Ironhawks are hoping for sunny skies this weekend in La Crosse, WI. Photo by Jake Palomo

Publisher Fri, 03/29/2024 - 18:27

The Vermilion Ironhawks are used to bad weather - but the last week or so has been nothing other than ridiculous for the community college baseball team.

A March 21 doubleheader at Austin ended with snow accumulating on the ground and a twinbill the following day was subsequently wiped out.

Even getting to indoor practices were a challenge this week, with a storm dumping nearly a foot of snow in town and stranding one of the Ironhawks at an off-campus apartment outside of Ely.

And though some travel is required, there’s some proverbial light at the end of the tunnel - and some sunshine ahead - for the Ironhawks.

This weekend’s four-game series with Western Wisconsin, set for La Crosse, was a go as of press time with temperatures set to approach 60 degrees nearly six hours south of Ely.

“For us, 55 or 60 might feel like 75,” said Vermilion Head Coach Tom Coombe. “The guys just want to get out and play and we were in miserable conditions last week in Austin. We finished the second game of that doubleheader, but it seemed more about taking pictures and taking in how ridiculous it was to be playing while snow was coming down.”

Riverland, which won the MCAC South Division title last year and had 35 wins, roughed up Vermilion and took both game of that double-dip: 10-0 and 9-1.

The first contest, however, was much closer than the final score might indicate.

It was 3-0 through five-and-a-half innings with Vermilion’s Jake Palomo and the Blue Devils Asahi Sato locked up in a duel.

Riverland scored three unearned runs in the bottom of the first inning, and that’s how it stayed until the sixth.

In the top of that frame, Vermilion loaded the bases with one out but came up empty. Sato, a sophomore from Japan, wiggled out of the jam and completed a four-hit shutout with seven strikeouts.

Riverland then put things way in the bottom of the sixth, scoring seven times against Palomo and reliever Parker Coach.

But Vermilion miscues played a big role with the Ironhawks committing eight errors in the game.

“We just didn’t give ourselves an opportunity,” said Coombe. “You can’t make eight errors against a team like Riverland and have a chance.”

Palomo gave up up two earned runs in five-and-one-third innings of work, and none of the runs allowed by Coach were earned.

Starting catcher Kelbee Woodham reached base all three times that he was up for Vermilion.

In the nightcap, Vermilion drew first blood as leadoff man Nick Berglund singled and was driven in by a Chris Arambula double.

Riverland bounced right back with two runs against starting pitcher Jacob Mickelson in the bottom half of the frame, and the hosts kept on scoring in the snow.

By the time the game was called in the fifth, the field was covered with the white stuff.

Vermilion (5-8) is set to take on Western Tech both Friday and Saturday, and if field conditions allow, the Ironhawks will meet Itasca in nonconference action Tuesday at Aurora.

• Northern Division play begins the weekend of April 6-7 with the Ironhawks traveling to Thief River Falls for four games against Northland.

In a preseason coaches’ poll, Vermilion is picked to finish second in the six-team Northern Division, behind only defending champion Itasca. Vermilion is followed in the poll by Rainy River, Hibbing, Northland and Mesabi.

The Ironhawks’ home opener is scheduled for Saturday, April 13 against Hibbing.

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Hart wins high school bullseye

Publisher — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 14:15:26 +0000

Hart wins high school bullseye

Publisher Fri, 03/22/2024 - 15:15

Ely’s Sabrah Hart was first among high school girls and second overall at the regional bullseye tournament held March 16 at Greenway High School.

Hart was second overall in the event and four of Ely’s End of the Road Archers made the overall top-10 at an event that attracted about 400 archers from 17 schools.

Ely’s Talan Hart was third overall, with Cylvia DeBeltz in seventh place and Laydan Hart in eighth place.

Both DeBeltz and Hunter Kosinski shot perfect 50s during the day, and Ely collected its most medals for a single bullseye tournament with seven overall.

In addition, seven Ely archers scored their personal best with two other making the top-10 of their respective division.

Sabrah Hart won the high school girls title with a score of 287, while Talan Hart took second among middle school boys at 286.

Getting thirds were DeBeltz (282, high school girls) and Laydan Hart (282, middle school boys), as well as Elam Moran (246, fourth grade boys).

Aspen MacCoy shot a 250 to place fourth in the fifth grade girls division, and Ari Hart was fifth in the fourth grade boys contingent.

Coming home with eighth-place finishes were Hayden Weidemann (271, middle school boys) and Payson Kundinger (266, middle school girls).

Personal bests for the day went to Ari Hart, Sabrah Hart, Talan Hart, Moran, Kosinski, Sawyer Kannas and Charlie Hway.

This weekend the Ely group will travel to Rochester for the state tournament in both bullseye and 3D, as 27 Ely archers will be participating.

At state, archers compete at the division level (high, middle, elementary). Elementary medaling is no longer broken down by grade.

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