CLOQUET— Ely’s high school softball season came to an end Tuesday afternoon in the quarter-final round of the Section 7A double elimination tournament. Top-seeded Silver Bay outpaced the Timberwolves 11-2 in a game that had remained tight until the final innings.
Ely had advanced to the quarterfinals in the elimination bracket after holding on for a 10-7 win over South Ridge earlier in the day. “We jumped out to an early lead against South Ridge,” said Ely Head Coach Cory Lassi. “I thought we had some big hits against them with runners on. The girls did a great job playing small ball moving runners over. We were able to weather the storm when South Ridge put pressure on us in the fifth.”
Senior Hannah Penke led the way offensively for Ely, driving in five runs and scoring twice on three hits. Freshman Amelia Penke added two RBIs on a hit as well.
Sophomore pitcher Zoe MacKenzie pitched seven full for the Wolves, allowing 13 hits and six earned runs, while fanning two.
In the afternoon contest, the Wolves spotted Silver Bay eight unearned runs and couldn’t keep pace. “Zoe did a great job keeping us in the game,” said Lassi. “It was 4-2 into the fifth and as a team we just seemed like we ran out of gas. We only gave up three earned runs. We gave a good team too many extra outs.”
MacKenzie allowed nine hits in five and two-thirds innings, while striking out two. Sophomore Ella Perish drove in Ely’s two runs on a hit.
Ely ends its season at 13-7, finishing among the top four teams in the section.