The Aitkin Steam broke a 3-3 tie with the visiting Upsala Bluejays on Memorial Day by scoring 3 in the 5th and 2 more in the 6th to win 8-4. Nathan Ehnstorm took over the pitching duties from Logan Olsen after 1 inning and went the final 8 innings to get the Win for the Steam, holding Upsala to 5 hits.
Upsala opened the scoring in the top of the 1st when Bryce Binek and Brandon Welinski both walked with 1 out, then Matt Swanson belted a 3-run Homer to give the Bluejays an early 3-0 lead.
Aitkin then tied things up in the bottom of the 2nd withy a 3-run inning of their own and it started with a lead-off solo Homer from Drew Paulbeck. Joey Simonson then singled, Bo Sanford walked, and after a Lane Olsen ground out advance both runners to 2nd and 3rd, a John Pelarski sacrifice fly allowed Joey Simonson to score and then Bo Sanford also scored on an error on the throw and the game was tied at 3-3.
In the bottom of the 5th, Aitkin took the lead for good when Nathan Ehnstorm scored on an error, then a 1-out double by Landon Janzen was followed by an rbi double from John McGuire to make it 5-3. Drew Paulbeck then singled, moving McGuire to 3rd and Joey Simonson walked to load the bases. Bo Sanford then singled to drive in McGuire and Aitkin led 6-3 after 5 inning.
In the top of the 6th, Upsala got a 1-out single from Jack Primus, then with 2 outs, Bryce Binek singled to right, then Primus scored on an error to make it 6-4.
In the bottom of the 6th, Aitkin answered back when John Pelarski reached on an error, then Nathan Ehnstrom also reached on an error, giving the Steam runners at the corners. After a steal of 2nd by Ehnstrom, John Pelarski grounded out to 1st baseman Jeremy Mugg for the 1st out. John Pelarski the scored on a wild pitch to make it 7-4, and a John McGuire single to center drove in Nathan Ehnstrom to make the 8-4 final score.
Nathan Ehnstrom closed things out by retiring the final 10 men he faced to end the game.
Upsala 4 6 3 – 4
Aitkin 8 12 2 – 8
WP: Nathan Ehnstrom 8IP 1 run 5 hits 6k 2bb 1hp
Logan Olsen 1IP 3 runs 1 hit 0k 2bb
LP: Brock Cichon 7IP 8 runs 12 hits 4k 2bb
Bryce Binek 1IP 0 runs 0 hits 0k 0bb
Steam:
John Pelarski 0-3 sac fly, 2 rbi, run
– Jake McGuire 0-1
Nathan Ehnstrom 2-4 sb, 2 runs
– Owen Foday 0-1
Zack Ehnstrom 1-5
Landon Janzen 1-4 2B, run
John McGuire 2-4 2B, 2 rbi, run
– Tanner Hills 0-0
Drew Paulbeck 2-4 Hr, sb, rbi, run
Joey Simonson 2-3 bb, run
Bo Sanford 1-2 bb, rbi, run
– Noah Janzen 0-1
Logan Olsen 1-3
– Thorin Dunham 0-1
Bluejays:
Justin Cichon 0-4 hp
Bryce Binek 2-4 2B, bb, run
Brandon Welinski 0-3 2bb, run
Matt Swanson 1-3 Hr, bb, 3 rbi, run
CJ Clear 0-4
Brock Cichon 1-4
Jeremy Mugg 1-4
Cohl Clear 0-3 sac
Jack Primus 1-4 run