ELY— The Timberwolves faced the odds-on favorite to win the section on Tuesday, and held up well in a 5-2 loss.
“This was a great effort by our guys today,” said Ely Head Coach Frank Ivancich. “If we continue to field like we did today, we are going to be just fine.”
For the Panthers, Wyatt Olson pitched a no-hitter into the sixth and allowed just two hits into the seventh, while striking out ten Ely batters for the win.
Ely sophomore Drew Marolt gave up four runs on six hits to take the loss. Gunnar Hart and Logan Lee pitched two innings apiece in relief, scattering three hits, while Le
e fanned three. Chase Sandberg paced Ely with two hits including the first hit off Olson in the sixth for a double, followed by Erron Anderson’s RBI double to plate pinch runner Bryce Fairchild for Ely’s first run.  Ely threatened in the seventh leaving two men on base but South Ridge’s Christian Pretesky closed out the seventh by fanning two Ely batters for the save.
Cherry 6, Ely 1
Playing at home against the Tigers last Friday, a rough first inning for Ely proved the difference in the nightcap of an afternoon doubleheader. Three Ely errors combined with three hits allowed the Tigers to bat around as they went up 4-0 in the opening frame.
“When you face an experienced team like Cherry, miscues are costly and good teams make you pay for those mistakes as Cherry did in that first inning,” said Ely Head Coach Frank Ivancich. “You just cannot give a team like Cherry six outs in an inning.”
The Tigers added two insurance runs in the fourth inning off a triple by Noah Asuma, while Ely couldn’t sustain a rally.
For Ely, Erron Anderson took the loss on the mound, pitching four innings and giving up all six runs on six hits while fanning three and issuing three walks. Logan Loe finished up in relief, allowing just one hit while striking out three Tiger batters.  Ely freshman Caid Chittum went two for three at the plate, with a RBI double in the seventh inning that drove in Mason Davis, who had made it to first on Ely’s only walk of the game.
Sam Serna notched the win for the Tigers, as he scattered four hits in seven full, striking out five and allowing just one walk.