Area High School Sports Update

BLACKDUCK – Blackduck has been challenging for the Northland Conference baseball championship for three consecutive years. Monday at Pine River the Drakes finally found a way to the top of the mountain.

Behind Jacob Krabbenhoft’s single, double and three RBIs, and Trey Volk’s three hits, the Drakes exploded for a 13-0 victory at Pine River in the match-up of North and South division champions.

“We played very well,” said Blackduck coach Dwight Kalvig, whose team improved to 16-3. “We didn’t expect to win in a blowout but we did play very well.”

Aaron Nissen was the winning pitcher, scattering four hits while fanning nine and walking one.

Monday’s game represented the third straight time Blackduck played for the Northland crown. The previous two years, however, the Drakes lost to Cass Lake-Bena.

“This is the first conference championship in any sport for the Blackduck boys programs in a long time,” Kalvig, who is in his first year as head coach, said. “This is a good group of boys and they did a nice job of getting used to me. I applaud the coaches who were here before me. These kids enjoy playing the game.”

Blackduck hosted Cass Lake-Bena Tuesday and will end its regular season Thursday at Deer River. The section playoffs begin May 29 at the homes of the higher seeds. The section scene will shift to Bemidji State University on May 31.

CL-B took a 10-7 record into Tuesday’s game at Blackduck. In recent action the Panthers downed Mountain Iron-Buhl 13-10 and lost 4-0 at home to Nevis.

Jake Ellis and Daven Staples ripped three hits in the win over Mountain Iron-Buhl. Ellis also scored three runs while Caleb Fisher, Staples and Nic Rairdon scored twice.

Against Nevis, CL-B managed only three hits: singles by Staples, Ellis and Rairdon. Wesley Moe was the hard-luck pitcher as he allowed only three hits.

In other area action, Bagley’s Sean Benson threw a no-hitter to lead the Flyers to a 19-0 victory over East Grand Forks Tuesday.

Last week Bagley (11-9) lost 10-0 to Warroad and 10-0 to Crookston. The Flyers will close their campaign at home Thursday against Park Rapids.

Kelliher-Northome visited Laporte Tuesday in its final outing. The Mustangs are 8-9 after downing Red Lake 16-0 and Littlefork 10-0 but losing 9-3 to Nevis.

Laporte dipped to 0-13 after losing to 17-2 to Nevis and 18-2 by Pine River and being swept by WHA 17-6 and 11-1.

Red Lake ended the regular season 0-11.

Section 8A softball

The Section 8A tournament began Tuesday, and Blackduck was the only area team to survive to the next round.

The Drakes, the No. 5 seed in the north bracket, topped No. 4 Red Lake County 13-8. Blackduck will travel to Lake of The Woods Thursday for second round action against top-seeded Badger/Greenbush-Middle River.

The semifinals will be May 30 at Ada and the title game will be May 31, also in Ada.

In other north bracket action Tuesday, No. 6 Kellier-Northome fell to No. 3 Lake of the Woods 15-5 and No. 2 Red Lake Falls blasted No. 7 Red Lake 10-0 in five innings.

In the south, top-seeded NCE/UE blanked No. 8 Laporte 10-0 in five and No. 6 Cass Lake-Bena ended its season with a 12-0, five inning loss to No. 3 Sacred Heart.

Pine to Prarie golf

Bagley captured the Pine to Prairie Conference boys golf championship, as the Flyers collected a total of 456.70 points in the eight conference tournaments.

Aaron Leintz of Bagley was the league medalist as he averaged 37.33 in the eight nine-hole events.

Bagley’s other all-conference golfers were BradyLaudon, Chase Netland and Brenton Bergh. Joining them were Taylor Carlson and Seth Carlin of Fosston plus Mahnomen’s Blake Kahlbaugh and Nate Kahlbaugh.

Sub-Section 8A golf

The Cass Lake-Bena boys golf team captured Tuesday’s South Sub-Section 8A meet in Fosston, carding a 320. Fosston was a distant second at 344.

Both teams qualified for the Section 8A tournament, which will be May 29 at the Bemidji Town & Country Club.

Cody Wind was the meet medalist as the CL-B senior shot 72. Teammate Dakotah Brunelle was second at 76. Panther Caleb Duoos placed fifth at 84 and Bryce Premo tied for 11th at 88.

Also scoring for the Panthers were Kyle Pemberton at 102 and Angel Rosillo at 111.

Red Lake shot 421 and was led by Rob McNeal’s 88. Cory Beaulieu shot 93, Reggie Robinson 113, Rob McClain 127 and Dion Thunder 133.

In the girls meet Fosston won with 374, Climax was second at 427, Fertile-Beltrami third at 440 and Red Lake fourth at 443.

Tatianna McClain had Red Lake’s top score with 92. Daisey Mondragon shot 97, Keia Roy 124, Amy Benais 130 and Brenna Pemberton 150.

CL-B’s lone golfer was Miranda Richards who shot 118.

Cass Lake-Bena also recently won the Greyhound Invitational held on the same course.

The Panthers finished at 339, edging Mahnomen which carded a 341.

Red Lake was ninth in the field at 413.

Brunelle was the medalist at 40-35-75. Cass Lake-Bena’s other scores included Duoos’ 45-41-86, Wind’s 45-44-89, Premo’s 43-46-89, Pemberton’s 52-54-106 and Rosillo’s 54-53-107.

McNeal led Red Lake with 40-40-80. McClain shot 53-49-102, Beaulieu 50-57-107 Robinson 60-64-124, Bruce Johnson 69-64-133 and Thunder 89-68-157.

In the girls meet Red Lake’s scores included Mondragon’s 52-50-102, McClain’s 61-61-122, Benais’ 70-62-132, Roy’s 66-66-132 and Pemberton’s 80-79-159.

Cass Lake-Bena was represented by Richards who shot 55-63-118.