ELY — The Ely Timberwolves wrapped up a grueling stretch of eight games in seven days by going 3-2 in five games over the past week, including a 2-1 showing at the Ely Veterans Memorial Showcase over the weekend.
The Wolves opened the stretch Tuesday with a 13-2, six-inning road win over Greenway/Nashwauk-Keewatin. Hunter Halbakken earned the win after pitching 5 1/3 innings, allowing just three hits while striking out five. Tyde Brecke and Halbakken each collected two hits, while Drew Johnson scored three runs for Ely.
Ely traveled to defending Section 7A champion South Ridge on Wednesday, where the Panthers claimed a 4-1 victory behind a strong pitching performance from Ben Petrasky.
Owen Marolt took the loss for Ely after allowing four runs on three hits while walking four and hitting one batter. Freshman Parker Niskala threw the final 2 1/3 innings for the Wolves, allowing just one hit while striking out two. Petrasky limited Ely to two hits while striking out seven without issuing a walk.
South Ridge scored three runs in the second inning with the help of a hit batter and two walks. Ely’s lone run came on a Panther error.
At the Ely Veterans Memorial Showcase, the Wolves opened Friday night with a 3-0 win over Pine City under the lights.
Halbakken dominated on the mound, allowing just one hit while striking out eight. Only two Pine City runners reached second base during the game.
Ely broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning when Stig Majerus delivered a two-run double that scored Brecke and Halbakken. Brecke finished with two hits to lead the Wolves offensively.
The Wolves followed with a 9-3 win over West Marshall Fusion on Saturday afternoon.
Ely scored in each of the first four innings and built an 8-0 lead. Brecke paced the offense with four hits and three runs scored, while Majerus added two hits and three RBIs. Marolt chipped in three hits and also earned the complete-game win on the mound, scattering six hits while walking one and striking out seven.
Ely closed out the showcase Saturday night with a hard-fought 9-8 loss to Esko.
The Eskimos jumped out early, scoring seven runs in the top of the first inning on six hits and two Ely errors. But the Wolves battled back throughout the game, scoring twice in the first inning, adding three more runs in the third, and plating two in the seventh before falling just short of a comeback.
Johnson and Majerus each had two hits for Ely, while Halbakken drove in three runs. Sean Merriman scored twice for the Wolves.
Jack Davies pitched 6 2/3 innings for Ely, allowing 14 hits and nine runs while striking out five and walking two.
Ely entered this week with a 10-7 record and four more games to complete the regular season, with sectional tournament play beginning next week.
Ely head coach Frank Ivancich believes a demanding regular season schedule against top competition has helped prepare the team for the playoffs. Ely has faced teams including reigning Class A state champion Red Lake County, defending Section 7A champion and state participant South Ridge, state tournament participant Hayfield, and Section 7AA contender Esko.
“We have gone out and not been afraid to play these teams,” Ivancich said. “If we lose a lopsided game to one of these teams, we can always learn from them and get better. Up to this point of our season, this has most certainly been the case.”