Sports Roundup: Mariners knock on State door again

• Taylor Guzzo

Silver Bay’s Taylor Guzzo gets the out at second against Littlefork-Big Falls Thursday in playoff action. Jill Innis
• Lacey Myrdal

Two Harbors’ Lacey Myrdal won the 200 and 400-meter dashes last Wednesday at sub-sections at the University of Minnesota Duluth. Jill Innis
• Madison Olson

Agate Madison Olson pitches against Greenway Thursday in a 5-2 playoff loss. Gary Molitor

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Mariners knock on State door again

For the eighth time in the past 10 seasons, the Silver Bay Mariners softball team has made it into the Section 7A championship game.

The Mariners played Cherry-Cotton beginning at 4 p.m. Thursday in Cohasset. Like last year, the Mariners had to defeat them twice to get a return trip to state.

“Cherry has an outstanding team,” said head coach Mike Guzzo. With that, he still sees his team with a strong chance to win.

The team has a slogan printed up on T-shirts: “Bayball: The Tradition Never Graduates,” they say, referring to the solid softball program Guzzo has been putting out for years. He admits this team is a little younger than previous ones, with six sophomores and a freshman playing varsity, but he thinks the Mariners previous accomplishments can pull them through.

“The tradition and experience” can put them over the top, Guzzo said.

To get to this point, the Mariners have had to string together many come-from behind wins.

“I can’t tell you how many games that we’ve had [that have] been crazy,” Guzzo said.

The Mariners won two out three games at Grand Rapids when the final four teams got together to earn a return trip. They opened with a dramatic 7-6 come-from-behind, eight- inning win over the Nashwauk-Keewatin Spartans and then fell 3-2 to the Cherry-Cotton Tigers in a battle of the only remaining unbeaten teams. They regrouped and defeated the Mesabi East Giants 2-1 to get another shot at the Tigers.

The Mariners led the Spartans 3-1 after six innings of play and appeared in cruise control on their way to a victory. The Spartans were far from dead as they erupted for five runs on five hits in the top of the seventh inning to take a 6-3 lead. The Mariners came in off the field for their final at bat and their bench was as quiet as you could get as in they had blew it and it was over. It turned out all they needed was a spark, and with one out Marina Carter delivered it with a double.

When Katie Smedstad singled to score her, the bench was alive and full of fire. After Brittany Duresky singled, Shay Viola singled to drive in two runs with two outs which tied it up and put the game into extra innings. This time the Spartan squad came in down beat and were retired 1-2-3 by Kirstin Sandstrom. In their half of the eighth, the Mariners wasted no time as Sandstrom led off with a double and scored when the next batter, Taylor Guzzo delivered a single for the walk-off run.

Cherry jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning via a Mariner error followed by two singles. The Mariners came back to take the lead with two in the third. Jessalyn Rowlee led off the inning with a single and with two outs Sandstrom drew an intentional walk. Guzzo made them pay with a double that scored both runners for a 2-1 Mariner lead.

Sara Sauter tied it up for the Tigers with home run over the fence in the fourth and the Tigers took the lead in the fifth. Angel Dahl led off the inning with a single, was sacrificed to second and scored on a single by Macey Etter.

Viola kept it a one-run game when she robbed Taylor Sauter of a home run while falling over the fence. With runners at first and second, they got to advance one base each and the next batter grounded out. The Mariners put two runners on in the fifth, had a two out double from Smedstad in the sixth and couldn’t get a runner past first in the seventh as the Tigers prevailed 3-2.

The Mariners scored solo runs in the third and fourth innings to get all they would end up needing against the Giants. Sandstrom led off the third with a double, was sacrificed to third by Nikki Babbitt and scored on a single by Carter. In the fourth, Rowlee doubled with one out and scored on a single by Viola. The Giants gained their only run in the fifth inning when a two-out single by pinch hitter Paige Hanson scored Carley Moisio who had singled with one out.

Sandstrom pitched the first 15 innings for the Mariners getting a win and a loss. She gave up six runs on nine hits versus the Spartans and gave up three runs on 10 hits against the Tigers.

Babbitt went the distance for the Mariners against Mesabi East, giving up one run on six hits.

Sandstrom finished the day with five hits, scored four times and was intentionally walked four times. Viola, Rowlee and Guzzo each had four hits to go with three each for Carter and Smedstad. Guzzo finished with four RBIs and Viola had three. Every Mariner batter who came to the plate reached base at least once.

Silver Bay came from behind with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to defeat the Littlefork-Big Falls Vikings Thursday 3-2 in a Section 7A quarterfinal contest at Cloquet.

A line drive single by Guzzo with two outs and a full count scored Phoenix Lillis and Sandstrom with the tying and winning runs.

The Mariners took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Viola singled and scored on a single by Sandstrom. The Vikings came back with one in the fourth to tie it at one. Emily Trappe drew a lead off walk and scored on a Mariner error. The Vikings took a 2-1 lead in their next at bat. Haylee Gates led off with a single and advanced to third on a single by Paige DeLack. She scored on another Mariner error.

In the Mariner sixth, Rowlee reached first after getting hit in the elbow by a pitch. Lillis came into the game to pinch run for her. After the next two batters went out, Sandstrom was intentionally walked.

The two runners made it to second and third on a wild pitch and then scored on Guzzo’s single. Sandstrom gave up a single in the seventh but only faced four batters to end the game 3-2 in favor of Silver Bay.

Sandstrom gave up two unearned runs to pick up the victory as she went all seven innings for the Bay. She gave up five hits and struck out five. Viola had two hits for the Mariners and scored a run. Guzzo reached base three times to go with her two RBIs.

Two Harbors track

The Agates track team put on a show at sub-sections last Wednesday at the University of Minnesota Duluth with the boys team finishing second and the girls coming in at third overall.

“The teams did an awesome job,” said head coach Tony Altiere. “Five relays and many individuals qualified for the section meet.”

The top four relay team’s and top seven individuals from sub-sections in each event at sub-sections qualify for sections. Some qualifying times could also get a runner to sections.

On the boys side, Chad Brelie won the 100 meters, as did the 400 and 800-meter relay teams. Caleb Hamp-Sill, as usual, was No. 1 in the long jump and fourth in the triple. Other top competitors for Two Harbors at the meet included Ryan Guentzel (second in the 200-meter dash) and Parker Kausch (second in the 800-meter dash).

On the girls team, Lacey Myrdal won the 200 and 400-meter dashes. Sonja Peterson placed second in the 3,200 meters. The girls 4-by-400 team also placed second it its event. In field events Stephanie McGregor was second in the shot put and discus.

Altiere said he thinks they have a shot at state, including the 4x100 and 4x200 relays, Brelie in the 100-meter dash, Hamp-Sill in the long and triple jump, Alex Horoshak in the long jump and Guentzel in the 200 meters.

On the girls team Altiere thought had a strong chance at state include McGregor in the shot put and discus, Peterson in the 3,200 meters and Myrdal in the 200 and 400-meter dashes.

Sections begin today at the University of Minnesota Duluth.

Silver Bay track

The Mariners track team qualified six athletes for sections at sub-sections last Wednesday at UMD.

Last season they had no one got to the big finish, but this year it was a different story.

“The biggest pressure was to get to sections,” said head coach Rick Frericks. “Whatever happens, happens [now at sections].”

The boys 4-by-800 relay team qualified with an 8:58 finish, a school record, to advance with a fourth place finish. The team consists of Sam Otterblad, Grant Russell, Kyle Blood and Shane Loeffler. Baruch Fischer also qualified in the shot put with a seventh place finish.

On the girls team, Sam Anderson was No. 6 in the 3,200 meters to advance to sections.

Overall, the boys team finished 14th with the girls coming in at No. 15.

The top four relay team’s and top seven individuals from sub-sections in each event at sub-sections qualify for sections. Some qualifying times could also get a runner to sections.

“It’s going to take a miraculous effort,” Frericks said about advancing to state. “Stranger things have happened.”

Sections began Friday at the University of Minnesota Duluth.

Two Harbors softball

The Agates season came to an end Thursday as they lost to Greenway 5-2 in the second round of sections.

“Greenway had a nice pitcher and we couldn’t get our bats going,” said head coach Julie Benson. “We had a few miscues in the field and Greenway took advantage and brought in the runs.”

Madison Olson took the loss allowing 12 hits, striking out three, in seven innings.

Abby Ray went 1-for-3 at the plate with an RBI and Sasha Fjeran also had a solid offensive outing going 1-for-3 with a run and two stolen bases. Marissa Engelson scored a run with an RBI.

First baseman Ray was the only senior lost to graduation.

Two Harbors golf

The girls golf team qualified no one from sub-sections last Tuesday at Giants Ridge.

Senior Lauren Smith almost qualified for sections, having to place 20th, but lost in a playoff.

“These kids improved usually,” said girls head coach Kristi Wasko about the team’s success throughout the season. “We are really, really, young.”

It was expected senior Erin Hoeft would make a run at sections, but it “wasn’t her day,” Wasko said.

The boys golf team finished tied for 14th during the first round of sections Thursday. No boys were ranked in the top 10.

Section results for day-two were not available as of press time.

Silver Bay golf

The Cook County-Silver Bay golf team qualified one individual for the Class A state golf tournament after finishing out section-play Tuesday at Giants Ridge.

Zack Twiest, of Cook County, shot an 86 and 85 for a score of 171 to advance on to the state tournament.

Overall the boys team finished third at sections while the girls team did not place.

Silver Bay members of the team included Shane Billings and Troy LeBlanc.

Two Harbors baseball

The Agates entered the sectional playoffs Wednesday with a 9-11 record as the six-seed at No. 3 Proctor (12-5).

Earlier in the season, they lost to the Rails 16-5. If the Agates were to pull off a win against Proctor, they would play either Greenway or Virginia at 2 p.m. Thursday at Wade Stadium.

Leading up to the game, Two Harbors lost to Virginia 9-2 Thursday being held to just five hits. The only bright spot for the Agates in the game was a two-run homer from Matt McDannold in the fifth inning.

The Agates also lost to Denfeld last Wednesday 9-1 after giving up four runs in the first inning.

Silver Bay baseball

Silver Bay defeated Barnum Wednesday 10-3 on the road to improve their record to 7-8. With the victory the Mariners finished in fifth place in the Polar League Conference with a record of 6-4. The Mariners scored five times in the first two innings with two hits and seven walks to take a lead they would never give up. Barnum was able to it cut it to 5-3, but could get no closer and a four run sixth inning by the Mariners cemented the deal.

Warren Carter and Cody Larson drew walks in the first inning. Carter scored on a wild pitch and Larson on a single by Zach Bulen. In the second, the first five Mariner batters drew a walk. Daniel Wilson walked in for a run, Cody Vadnais scored on a wild pitch and Holden Panetti scored on a sacrifice fly by his brother Hunter, to the deepest part of center field.

Taylor Carlson came in to pitch for Barnum in relief of Josh Hogan with the bases loaded and nobody out. He retired the next nine batters in pitching three scoreless innings thru the fifth. He ran into trouble with the walks in the sixth inning. Vadnais struck out and reached first on a wild pitch. Walks to Holden Panetti and Luke Thun loaded the bases.

Carter singled to score two and a walk to Hunter Panetti loaded them up again. A single by Larson scored one and a ground out by Bulen scored another. Wilson scored in the sixth on another ground out after being hit by a pitch.

Carter, Wison, Vadnais and Holden Panetti each scored twice. Thun drew three walks to go with two each for Carter, Hunter Panetti, Larson, Wilson, Vadnais and Holden Panetti. Hunter Panetti picked up the victory going the distance.

The next afternoon the Mariners defeated the Cotton Cardinals Thursday 6-4 to finish the regular season at 8-8. The No. 5-seed Mariners opened up the playoffs at 5 p.m. Wednesday against Hill City, the No. 4-seed.

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