DEER RIVER— Freshman Cade Chittum rapped a two-run single in the top of the sixth and notched a save from the mound in the bottom of the seventh as he helped lead Ely to a 7-5 come-from-behind victory over the Warriors in their regular-season finale here last Friday.
The Wolves headed into the Section 7A playoffs, which kicked off Tuesday, as the third-seed, with a 14-6 record.
Friday’s game marked a nice recovery after back-to-back losses earlier in the week.
Junior Joey Bianco had a hot bat against the Warriors as well, notching three hits, including a two-out double in the top of the seventh to give Ely an insurance run. Sophomore Drew Marolt had singled to start the final frame and Bianco’s hit brought pinch runner Sam Leeson home. Chittum and senior Harry Simons both had two hits on the afternoon.
Junior pitcher Gunnar Hart started for Ely and went four innings, giving up three runs on six hits. Sophomore Brecken Sandberg pitched two innings of relief, giving up two runs on two hits, while fanning four Warrior batters.
Friday’s win came on the heels of Ely’s 7-5 loss to Two Harbors as a three-run seventh-inning Ely rally fell short. Junior hurler Logan Loe took the loss, giving up six runs on 11 hits through five innings, while striking out four. Senior Chase Sandberg paced Ely with three hits and three RBIs, while Bianco and sophomore Deegan Richards added two hits apiece for the Wolves.
Also, on Thursday, the Wolves struggled against Chisholm pitcher Jude Sunquist, who fanned 14 Ely batters, while giving up just one run on five hits to lead the Bluestreaks to a 6-1 win. Sunquist added two doubles and an RBI to help his cause as Chisholm broke open a 2-0 game in the top of the fourth, adding four runs with help from four walks and two hit batters.
Bianco managed to do Ely’s only real damage against Sunquist, connecting for two hits, including a double to score Ely’s only run.
The Wolves had better success against Northeast Range pitchers last Wednesday, as they notched a 9-3 win in a five-inning contest shortened by rain. Northeast Range drew first blood but their 1-0 first inning lead didn’t last long as Ely scored four runs in the bottom of the frame. Loe doubled and Bianco singled to lead the charge. The Wolves added four more in the second inning, helped by two NER errors. Richards rapped a three-run double to give Ely what proved to be an insurmountable 8-1 lead at that point.
Junior Erron Anderson pitched all five innings, allowing just three runs on two hits, while issuing five walks and striking out five. Anderson helped his cause with a single and an RBI.