Legion splits home and away series with Hibbing

The Grand Rapids Legion Post 60 played Hibbing twice this week in a home and away series, splitting the two games with their rivals down Highway 169.

Grand Rapids hosted the first game at Bob Streetar Field on Tuesday, putting righthander Kyler Miller on the mound where he held Hibbing to one hit while striking out seven in just four innings pitched. The Wolfpack outhit Hibbing 8-4 in the game but could not get a run across the plate until the sixth inning. Nolan Svatos’ strong summer continued with another three hits and a walk, and Miller went 2-4 with a run scored. Hibbing also scored two runs in the sixth, putting the game out of reach for Grand Rapids in a close 3-1 ballgame.

The teams faced-off again in Hibbing on Thursday and Grand Rapids came out swinging the bat again in a 10-6 win.

“We came out of the gate swinging hot bats and put up some crooked numbers. Once we fixed our defensive problems - four errors in the first two innings - we were fine,” said head coach Bill Kinnunen.

Svatos was once again causing trouble at the top of the batting order with another three hits and three runs scored. Caleb Gunderson had a big day at the plate, going 2-5 with three RBI to help his cause from the mound. Gunderson got the start and the win for the Wolfpack, throwing 5.2 innings while allowing two earned runs on eight hits while striking out 5 and walking four.

“Caleb didn't have his best stuff but he competed and fought through it,” Kinnunen said.

Grand Rapids improved to 7-11 on the year with the win and continue to swing the bats well going into the upcoming postseason.

Substrate 10 seeding will be released this weekend, and the tournament will be held in Proctor and Cloquet next week.