Weekly Round-Up - Area scores and reviews

BASEBALL

Hibbing 6, Grand Rapids 5

Grand Rapids 11, Cloquet 0

Duluth Marshall 8, Grand Rapids 4

Grand Rapids 5, Proctor 0

The Thunderhawks saw a lot of action this week, splitting four games on the road to settle in at 8-7 after the flurry of games. Kyler Miller got the start on the mound Monday against Hibbing, going six innings, allowing three hits and striking out three while allowing five runs, but zero earned. Caleb Gunderson relieved Miller and ended up with the loss in 2 ⅓ innings of relief. Jameson Duell went 2-4 with a run scored from the plate.

Gunderson was back on the mound Tuesday in a start against Cloquet and tossed a gem for the Thunderhawks, going the distance with a 10-k effort and allowing a single hit and walk against the Lumberjacks. Catcher Jake Garski had three hits with an RBI and run scored and Dom Broberg drove in three runs on two hits in their 11-0 win at Cloquet.

The follow-up game Tuesday against Duluth Marshall was a battle, with the Hilltoppers getting the win at home, 4-8 over the Thunderhawks. Nolan Svatos took the loss from the mound, throwing four innings and allowing four runs. Kyler Miller was 2-4 with an RBI and run scored in the game.

Easton Sjostrand was dialed-in on the mound Thursday, shutting out Proctor in a 5-0 win at Bob Streetar Field. Sjostrand let the offense do their job as he kept the Rails bats silent in a complete game, 2-hit, six strikeout gem.

“Another great performance by Easton,” said head coach Bill Kinnenun.

All nine Thunderhawks reached base in the win.

Deer River 3, Greenway-Nashwauk-Keewatin 0

Deer River, Chisholm

Deer River, Littlefork-Big Falls

DEER RIVER— Deer River improved to 6-3 on the season while dropping GNK to 6-6 in a 3-0 shutout win for the Warriors at home last Friday. Warriors’ starting pitcher Preston Reed tossed a complete-game shutout for Deer River, while Ben Storlie got two hits and Kayden Gotchie knocked in two baserunners. Warriors head coach Brian Burman said Zach Mann was solid in the field defensively to help secure the win. The Warriors went back on the road Thursday to face-off against The Bluestreaks in Chisholm and were scheduled to be in Littlefork-Big Falls on Friday. No scoring data was available prior to publication.

Greenway-Nashwauk-Keewatin 7, Aitkin 4

AITKIN— The Titans looked to bounce back in Aitkin after being shutout in Deer River last Friday and took down the Gobblers 7-4 on the road, before heading to Pine City on Saturday. Results vs Pine City were unavailable at publication.

SOFTBALL

Greenway-Nashwauk-Keewatin 5, Esko 2

COLERAINE— Sophia Denucci had the best game of her softball career when she hit an inside-the-park-home run to give the Titans the permanent lead in their 5-2 over Esko. Denucci had two hits in the game and the attention of her head coach, Kerby Gernander.

“Sophie had the best game of her career, her inside-the-park home run was huge,” said Gernander, who thought about halting Denucci at third base but knew it wouldn’t matter anyways.

“She was not stopping. She’s one of the fastest players on the team and she was going for it.”

The Titans won their seventh game of the year, and played their final regular season matchup on Thursday in Duluth.

Grand Rapids 21, Duluth Marshall 5

Grand Rapids 5,

DULUTH— The Thunderhawks got a big win against Duluth Marshall on the road, taking down the Hilltoppers 21-5 on Tuesday. Grand Rapids gave Rose Ruzynski the start and she pitched five innings for the win. The Thunderhawks were back on the road Thursday in Bemidji, getting a 5-0 win with Addie Linder on the mound.

International Falls 18, Deer River 0

I’FALLS— The Broncos were dominant in their 18-0 home win over the Deer River Warriors. The Warriors were back on the field Thursday against Littlefork-Big Falls in search of their first road win of the year. No scoring data was available prior to publication.

TRACK AND FIELD

Grand Rapids

The Thunderhawks boys and girls track and field teams participated in the Lake Superior Conference Championship in Cloquet on Tuesday and performed well all-around while on the big stage.

The boys team took third place out of eight schools with an overall score of 109 after several impressive performances. Thundehawks placed first and third in the 3200m race out of 17 runners, led by Brenden Sylvester who took first with a personal record of 9:54.61, followed by

Zane Phoenix in third who finished in 10:53.86.

The 4x200 relay team consisting of Reid Ketola, Tadi Taguta, Colton Johnson, and Thomas Pogorelc took first place in the race with a personal team record of 1:33.55.

Herschel Christiansen soared to first place in the high jump with a PR of 6-01.00 and glided through the 110m hurdles in 15.81 to take second,

“Christensen has returned to the ring as well, coming off an ankle injury. He is doing well in the 110m hurdles and winning the high jump with a jump of 6'1", said Thunderhawks coach Matt Sandys.

Benjamin Harker took third in the shot put with a PR of 45-11.00, and third in the discus throw with a throw of 136-09.

The Thunderhawks took the top two spots in the long jump, with a 19-07.00 from Tadi Taguta to place first and Colton Johnson’s jump of 19-04.25, to take second right behind his teammate.

Eighth-grader Lily DeBay's performance was impressive for the girls team who placed fourth overall with a team score of 95.5. DeBay placed first in the 100m hurdles, even more impressive winning the event with the majority of the other 18 runners in high school. Her teammate Elle Nelson finished third in the event, just behind DeBay at 17-19.00

DeBay and Nelson placed second and fourth in the 300m hurdles as well.

DeBay’s day wasn’t done until she won the long jump, taking first place with a jump of 15-03.00.

Ginger Pogorelc placed first in the high jump with a leap of 4-10.00, clearing her win with two inches to spare and Emma Thomsen placed second in the discus throw with a toss of 103-06.00, which was a personal best for Thomsen.

“Emma has been moving the heavy metal very well this spring. Her hard work and dedication is really showing through her performances,”said Matt Sandys, who also had this to say following his team’s performance:

“Brendon Silvester has been working really hard this year to go back to state and it was evident by his domination in the 3200. He has been working for the end of the season and it has been fun to watch him.”

On Lily DeBay day, Sandy’s said:

“Lily has come on really strong this time of year too. She is performing like a veteran athlete even though she is an 8th grader. She has been a force on the hurdles this spring.”

While DeBay was dominant in her events, Sandy’s 4 x 200 relay team is working hard to leave their mark on the program. According to Sandy’s:

“The 4 x 200 crew has their eye on the school record and a trip to state. They have been working to dial in the handoffs. There is still gas in the tank. They are exciting to watch run as they get better every meet.”

Bigfork

The Huskies track and field team was in Northome this week and had a great night that brought a lot of personal bests for Bigfork athletes.

Jemma Rahier had a great night getting personal bests in all three of her events: the 100 meter dash, 200 meter dash and the Long Jump.

In the 100 Meter dash Tinley finished in 10th place and Dalton took 4th place. Piper took 10th in the 200 meter dash. Dalton took 6th in the 800 meter and Mack grabbed 9th, while Mikaela took 4th for the girls. In the 100m Hurdles, Shea took 2nd and Piper took 5th achieving a personal best.

In the boys 110m Hurdles, Keegan took 3rd with a personal best, and Scott Heel clicked his way into 4th. The 4x100 meter relay teams did well. The team of Tinley, Shea, Jacinta, and Piper finished 4th with a personal best. Josie Eleanor, Brooklynn, and Mikaela took 5th also achieving personal bests.

The boys took third overall. Brooklynn competed in the 3200 for the first time at an outdoor meet and took 4th place. Chase took 1st in the shot put and Scott took 7th, while Eleanor took 5th for the girls. Piper was 7th and Sal was 10th in the Long Jump. The final event, the Triple Jump had Sal taking 5th place, Scott in 6th, and Shea taking 8th in the girls. There were numerous personal bests from Noah, Hunter, Mack, Keegan, Piper, and Sal, according to Bigfork coach Mallory Johnson.

BOYS LACROSSE

Grand Rapids-Greenway 9, Duluth Marshall 8

Forest Lake 10, Grand Rapids-Greenway 3

The Thunderhawks earned their second win of the season, beating the Hilltoppers in Duluth 9-8, but couldn’t make it three after they lost at Forest Lake on Thursday 10-3. GRG boys LAX hosts St. Cloud next Tuesday.

GIRLS LACROSSE

Grand Rapids-Greenway, Forest Lake

FOREST LAKE— The Lightning take their show on the road as they seek their eighth consecutive win in Forest Lake on Friday. Results of the game were unavailable at publication.

BOYS GOLF

Greenway-Nashwauk-Keewatin and Deer River played at The Quarry at Giants Ridge in an Iron Range Conference meet on Wednesday. Rock Ridge was the winner of the tournament by a single stroke (341) over GNK, whose Caiden Carpenter finished as the top individual scorer overall, shooting an 81 after winning a tie-breaker against Drake Klackoski from Rock Ridge. Deer River’s Kyle Gotchie was right there with them, shooting an 83 for third overall. Behind Gotchie was Louis Champlin for GNK, who took fourth overall in the tournament with an 83 after winning a tie-breaker against Ely-Northeast Range’s Thomas Homer. GNK took second place overall with a score of 342 and Deer River finished in fifth place, with a 371.

As top-6 finishers in the meet, Caiden Carpenter of GNK, Kyle Gotchie of Deer River, and Louis Champlin of GNK earned Iron Range All-Conference selections.

The GNK girls golf team participated in the girls Iron Range Conference meet, finishing in third with a 495. No individual scoring information was available.

BOYS VOLLEYBALL

Bemidji 3, Grand Rapids 1

BEMIDJI— The Grand Rapids boys volleyball team was on the road in Bemidji Wednesday to challenge the Lumberjacks before returning for two home games next week, but couldn’t escape Bemidji with a victory, dropping three of four sets 11-25, 23-25, 27-25, 22-25.

NORTHERN REVIVAL

The Northern Revival Volleyball Club wrapped up another successful season and Rob Herring of the club offered a farewell to his senior players that will move on after this year, which included Braya LaPlant of Grand Rapids High School, who is graduating 2024 and plans to continue playing volleyball at St. Cloud State University. Also graduating in 2024 from Northern Revival is Haylee Finckbone, who will finish her time in high school and attend Itasca Community College to pursue her AAS Degree before studying for a degree in Criminal Justice.