Wrens, Bulldogs battle for Polar League small-school championship

The Carlton varsity boys baseball team secured the championship of the Polar League small-school division by picking up a 7-5 win over Wrenshall at Chub Lake Park Tuesday afternoon. It was a tough win for the Bulldogs, who trailed and had to fight back for the win.

After taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning the 'Dogs found themselves trailing when the Wrens offense scored four runs in the top of the third inning on several misplays by Carlton.

"We took advantage of their mistakes during the game and they did the same against us," said Wrens head coach Paul DeVall. "Both pitchers pitched very well, but the errors in the field cost both teams."

Carlton answered back with a run of its own in the bottom of the fourth to cut the lead to 4-2, but Wrenshall responded in kind with a run in the top of the fifth to take it to 5-2.

The bottom of the fifth inning saw the Bulldogs score four runs on five Wrenshall errors. Carlton added a lone tally in the bottom of the sixth on a bases-loaded walk.

"Andrew Silverio threw a great game for us," DeVall said. "He threw 67 strikes and just 97 pitches for us."

Silverio pitched well for the Wrens, but the Bulldogs also got a fine performance from starter Ryan Gray - who went five innings and gave up only one earned run on three hits.

"Ryan threw well for us," said Carlton head coach Ryan Schmidt. "He gave up only three hits in five innings, but mistakes behind him put us in a tough spot. He did a good job after the four-run inning of keeping the game within reach until we were able to generate some offense. Our pitchers are doing the job, but we need to play better behind them."

Following Gray to the mound was Kaden Crane, who pitched the final two innings for Carlton -

giving up just one hit while fanning four Wrens in the process.

On offense, Crane also had a single and three RBIs for Carlton along with a stolen base. Kristian Herman added a 2-for-4 effort for Carlton at the plate. Peyton Schmidt was 1 for 3 with a couple of RBIs - one of which tied the game in the fifth inning - and Dan Eggert drove in the game-winner for Carlton.

Silverio also had a fine game on offense for Wrenshall, going 3 for 4 with a run scored and a stolen base.

While Wrenshall did not win the league title, the fact that they were in the hunt in a game of that magnitude shows how much the program has grown in just a few short years.

"I've been the coach since 2016 and the program restarted just a few years before that," explained DeVall. "We were very competitive last season, but several key players graduated. We knew going into this season we would be young and that some of our older guys would be inexperienced. I am starting a freshman every game and a seventh-grader."

DeVall said Ryder Wrazidlo has shown real promise at the plate and has been the designated hitter for most of our games.

"He has an on-base percentage of .500 and has even hit several doubles," DeVall said. "I also think it is worth noting that Randy Wimmer and Wyatt Kelley have been hitting the ball well this season."

Next up for Carlton was a Thursday game at home against Two Harbors while the Wrens were at Barnum the same day, after this issue of the Pine Knot News went to press.