ML-WR Boys Get 5-1 Win Over Esko Clinch Polar League Title

Wes Vork-NSO

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May 14

Dwight Cadwell-NSO

“We really wanted to win this one” ML-WR’s boys head baseball coach Lyle Halverson told Northland Sports Online. “The win over Esko would guarantee us the Polar League Championship and that’s exactly what happened.” The Rebels used two big innings and a dominant pitching performance by Nate Zuk to win Thursday by a score of 5-1.

Besides Zuk’s outstanding pitching performance, several outstanding defensive plays were turned in as well to stop any Esko threat before it began. Rejean Carlson made two great plays at short and Joey Bohaty made two great plays at second, robbing hits away from Jamie Stokes and Aaron Semerau. “Those were great plays defensively but two others really stood out,” Halverson added. “Rudy Ketchum picking RJ Jubie off second base in the top of the first inning and Trevor Nummela’s throwing out Mitch Reuer out at home in the third inning were the two biggest plays defensively all season.”

The Rebels scored three runs in the bottom of the third inning when Adam Ryan led off with a single to right field; he stole second, moved to third on a single by Michael Unzen, and scored on a double to right field by Carlson. Unzen and Carlson both scored on a ground rule double by Dan Anderson. Moose Lake-Willow River would add two more runs in the fifth inning when Carlson led off with a single. He moved to second on a ground out by Joey Bohaty. He then scored as Anderson tripled to the right field corner. Anderson would score on a single to left by Nate Zuk.

Esko’s loan run came in the sixth inning as Steve Lewis reached first on an error by the Rebels. He moved to second as Ryan Vang was hit by a pitch. Matt Tengesdahl then grounded out which allowed Lewis to score for the Eskomos. Dan Anderson led the way for the Rebels as he had three hits in the Rebels victory making him 8-10 in his last ten at bats.

Moose Lake-Willow River improves to 11-4 on the season and is in action again Friday night when they take on St. Bernard at Wade Stadium in Duluth. Esko falls to 9-8 overall on the season and
they will play at Floodwood on Friday afternoon.

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at dwight@northlandsportsonline.com