Support the Timberjay by making a donation.

Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

Ely pitching shows promise in early season

Wolves ten-run Littlefork-Big Falls on Monday, leave too many runners stranded in 4-2 loss to GNK

Marshall Helmberger
Posted 4/17/24

ELY— The Timberwolves bounced back Monday to even their young season’s record at 1-1 as Ely pitchers combined on a five-inning no-hitter to beat Littlefork-Big Falls 10-0 on a perfect day …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Ely pitching shows promise in early season

Wolves ten-run Littlefork-Big Falls on Monday, leave too many runners stranded in 4-2 loss to GNK

Posted

ELY— The Timberwolves bounced back Monday to even their young season’s record at 1-1 as Ely pitchers combined on a five-inning no-hitter to beat Littlefork-Big Falls 10-0 on a perfect day for baseball.
Elliott Levens pitched three full, striking out one in the effort without allowing a hit. Sophomore Jack Davies kept the no-hit streak alive, finishing up the final two frames before the ten-run rule brought a halt to the slaughter.
While the pitching stood out, Head Coach Frank Ivancich saw plenty to like from his hitters as well. Caid Chittum led the way with three hits, three runs scored and two RBIs, while Levens added two hits and two RBIs. Ely put two runs on the board in the first inning, five more in the second, and wrapped up their offense with three more in the third.
“Today we did a much better job at the plate, being more aggressive and most importantly swinging the bat,” said Ivancich. He noted that last Friday’s season opener against Greenway, was his teams’ first time playing on a field this season, which likely accounted for some of the miscues in that outing, which Ely lost 4-2. “To throw and field outside is a much different venue than being in the gym,” Ivancich said.
Drew Marolt had a middling performance from the mound against the Raiders, scattering five hits and allowing four runs in four innings of work. He also showed considerable command at times, striking out six batters while walking just two.
The Raiders opened scoring with a run in the second, but Ely responded with a run in the top of the third to knot the game 1-1. Davies walked, stole second, and advanced to third on a Drew Johnson bunt, before Chittum drove him in on a sac fly to center.
The Raiders added a run in the bottom of the third and two more runs in the fourth inning off a passed ball and a wild pitch to make it 4-1. Ely looked ready to rally as they loaded the bases in the fourth and left two runners stranded in the fifth but couldn’t score. They drove one runner across the plate in the seventh and once again left the bases loaded.
Having allowed just four runs in their first two games, pitching has been an early bright spot for the Wolves. “Only walking three batters in 12 innings is a good trend to build on,” said Ivancich. “If we can continue to do that, we’ll be in most of our games.”