The Fertile-Beltrami built a big lead and held off a late Crookston American Legion Post 20 Baseball team rally to win 7-5 in the season opener for both teams in Fertile.
FIRST INNING-
Fertile’s Easton Petry was the starting pitcher and had a great start by getting the first two Crookston batters to ground out. After a Matt Contreras walk, the next batter grounded out.
Fertile’s Bryer Strem was hit by a pitch to start the bottom of the inning before Steven Sather singled and Petry walked to load the bases. Strem scored the first run by stealing home and Caleb Sather grounded out and another run scored to give Fertile a 2-0 lead.
SECOND INNING-
Crookston was retired in 1-2-3 fashion with a lineout, ground out, and a strikeout.
Fertile was retired in 1-2-3 fashion with a groundout and two strikeouts.
THIRD INNING –
Crookston’s Lucas Miller and Tarek Siegle walked to lead off the inning. Parker Kelly singled to centerfield to score a run to get within a 2-1 deficit. A Crookston baserunner was caught stealing before Blake Melsa was hit by a pitch. The next batter hit into a double play.
Fertile was retired in 1-2-3 fashion with a pop out, fly out, and a strikeout.
FOURTH INNING-
Crookston’s Perala singled to left field before a double play. The next Crookston batter grounded out and the half-inning was over.
Fertile’s Hemmah doubled with one out before the next two batters were retired.
FIFTH INNING-
Crookston’s Miller walked with one out. After a strikeout, Kelly singled to right field and Miller scored to tie the game at 2-2.
Fertile responded in the bottom of the inning when Brady Bjerk walked, Kane Oistad singled, and Strem reached on an error and the bases were loaded with nobody out. Steven Sather walked to score a run and Petry doubled to right field to score two runs for a 5-2 lead. Another run scored on a wild pitch and after a Hemmah single, the next two batters were retired.
SIXTH INNING-
Crookston’s Perala singled with one out. He advanced to second on an error and scored on another error to bring Crookston within a 6-3 deficit.
The first two Fertile batters were retired before Strem singled and Steven Sather doubled to score a run for a 7-3 lead.
SEVENTH INNING-
Crookston tried to get a seventh inning rally going and Greyson Ecker, Miller and Siegle all walked to load the bases with nobody out. Kelly singled to score two runs to bring Crookston within a 7-5 deficit. Petry settled down and retired the next three batters and Fertile won the game 7-5.
Crookston drops to 0-1 on the year and will be at Fargo Post 2 at Jack Williams Stadium in Fargo on Thursday. Fertile improves to 1-0 on the year.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
| Crookston | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 1 |
| Fertile-Beltrami | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | – | 7 | 8 | 2 |
OFFENSIVE LEADERS –
Crookston –
Parker Kelly – 3 for 4, 4 rbi
Lucas Perala – 2 for 4, run
Fertile-Beltrami –
Steven Sather – 2 for 3, 2 rbi, 2 runs, walk
Easton Petry – 2 for 3, 2 runs, walk
Kolby Hemmah – 2 for 3
Kane Oistad – 1 for 1, run
Bryer Strem – 1 for 3, 3 runs, HBP
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB/HBP | K |
| Blake Melsa-Crox | 6.0 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 5 |
| Easton Petry-Fert | 7.0 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 4 |
