ELY— In an afternoon marked by gale force winds, the fourth-seeded Timberwolves advanced in their first matchup in the Section 7A softball playoffs here on Tuesday, topping Cook County 16-0 to extend their winning streak to eight games. But the streak came to a disappointing end later in the day as the Wolves fell 6-2 to South Ridge, to head to the elimination bracket in the double-elimination tournament at 2 p.m. on Thursday.
The high winds did little to slow Ely’s bats, as they pounded 13th-seeded Cook County 16-0 in an opener mercifully called after just three and a half innings of play.
The Wolves jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning, but they hit their stride over the next two frames, notching eight runs in the second and seven in the third. Meanwhile, Ely’s ace hurler Zoe MacKenzie pitched a one-hitter in four innings of work.
Ely blistered Cook County pitchers, racking up 14 hits in just three innings. Maija Mattson led the way, notching two hits in two at-bats, including a two-run homer to right in the second inning. She went on to score once more and added another RBI on a triple in the third. Makenzie Huntington went 3-3, scoring twice and adding an RBI, while Zoe MacKenzie drove in three runs on a hit. Amelia Penke rapped a triple in the third, and Ella Perish and Riley Larsen each drove in two runs.
The Wolves played error-free ball, while Cook County posted four errors in the contest.
After their impressive offensive performance in their opener, the Wolves bats went suddenly quiet against South Ridge pitching. Maya Vanderscheuren earned the win for the Panthers, holding the Wolves to just five hits, while fanning five. Ely’s MacKenzie, who had been overpowering against the Cardinals earlier in the day, struggled a bit in the nightcap, allowing ten hits, while striking out four. Errors also hurt Ely’s cause as only two of the Panther’s runs were earned. Senior Clare Thomas had a hit and an RBI for the Wolves, while Peyton Huntington had two hits in four at-bats and stole two bases in the losing effort.
Regular season wrap-up
The Ely girls wrapped up their regular season last Saturday with a 15-0 rout over Floodwood to extend their regular season winning streak to six games. MacKenzie notched another win from the mound, allowing just two hits in four innings pitched, while striking out three. Peyton Huntington had a huge day at the plate, notching four runs and four RBIs on a hit and three walks. “Clare Thomas was outstanding at the plate as well,” said Head Coach Jeff MacKenzie. “She has been our leading hitter all year and continues her game-to-game consistency.” Thomas notched two hits, scored once, and drove in a run.
The Wolves notched a 4-2 win over Hill City on Friday. “This was a huge win for us,” said MacKenzie. “Their pitcher was the best we’ve faced this year and to hit as well as we did shows we can be very competitive going into playoffs. Zoe pitched her best game of the year, keeping their hitters off balance with her rise ball and change-up.” MacKenzie allowed just one earned run, while striking out eight Hill City batters. Peyton Huntington drove in two of Ely’s runs on a hit while Larsen scored one and drove in the other two runs on a hit.
In an earlier game last Friday, the Wolves had little trouble with Two Harbors, polishing off the Agates 15-5.
In a match last Wednesday, the Wolves beat Littlefork-Big Falls 6-4.