Ellsworth Baseball Moves to Semifinals with 5-2 Win Over Lawrence

The Ellsworth Eagles beat the Lawrence Bulldogs 5-2 on a sunny beautiful day, on Wednesday afternoon in Ellsworth, in a game broadcast on WDEA Internet Radio.

Connor Wagstaff was dominant on the mound, striking out12 and walking 2 . He allowed just 4 hits. Wagstaff didn't allow a base runner through 3.1 innings when Nick Grard reached 1st on a wild pitch after striking out. He didn't allow a hit until the top of the 6th inning.

Ellsworth scored the 1st run in the bottom of the 2nd. With 1 out Hunter Curtis singled. Connor Wagstaff struck out and Michael Palmer singled moving Curtis to 3rd. Curtis slid head first into 3rd, and drew a little blood, so Nick Kane ran for him. Kane scored when Nate Smith singled, driving in the run. Riley Grindle was hit by a pitch, loading the bases, but Jacob Ryder got Tyler Mitchell to strike out swinging to end the inning.

In the bottom of the 4th inning, Wagstaff bunted his way on base, and then Michael Palmer sacrificed him to 2nd. A balk moved Wagstaff to 3rd where he easily scored on Smith's sacrifice fly to center. It was Smith's 2nd RBI.

In the 5th inning Mitchell singled to start the inning and Devin Grindle singled. Jackson Curtis reached on an error by the 1st baseman. Matt Burnett grounded into a fielder's choice, driving in a run and scoring Mitchell to give Ellsworth a 3-0 lead.

Lawrence made it exciting in the top of the 6th inning. Mike Roy started the inning off with a single, the first hit off of Wagstaff. Dylan Coombs struck out swinging, and Nate Bickford struck out swinging for the 2nd out. But, Wagstaff temporarily lost his control, walking Nick Grard and Chris Dow to load the bases. Jacob Ryder, the pitcher helped his own cause with a double, driving in 2 runs to make the score 3-2. But Wagstaff got Zach Nickerson to ground to 2nd, to end the inning.

Ellsworth added 2 insurance runs in the 6th inning.  Connor Wagstaff popped to short for the 1st out, and then Michael Palmer reached on an error by the 3rd baseman. Nate Smith flew out to left field for the 2nd out. Riley Grindle singled. Tyler Mitchell singled to load the bases. Devin Grindle then delivered a huge 2 run double. Lawrence escaped without further damaged when Zach Nickerson speared Jackson Curtis' line drive off the ground at 2nd base.

Ryder struck out 3 and had a balk for Lawrence.

Devin Grindle had 2 singles and a double for Ellsworth. Tyler Mitchelll has 2 singles. Jackson Curtis, Connor Wagstaff, Nathan Smith and Riley Grindle all had a single

Ellsworth now 16-1 will play the winner of the Medomak Valley-John Bapst Quarterfinal likely Saturday afternoon, June 8th at 1PM. That game will in all likelihood be broadcast on WDEA Internet Radio, on our free downloadable APP and on any Alexa enabled device

Lawrence ends the season at 8-10