VFW scores 19 and 15 to sweep Crookston

I first started at the Bemidji (Minn.) Pioneer as an intern in the summer of 1996. That would begin six years as a news reporter, sports reporter and copy editor for a small, six-day-per-week daily newspaper in northern Minnesota. I wrote a large range of stories from multiple beats, to features to sports, my favorite being the coverage of the Red Lake Reservation High School basketball team named the Warriors. Here is a collection of my stories from my time at the Pioneer.

July 18, 1998

By Devlyn Brooks

Mike Crawford hit 3-4 with 5 RBIs Friday night to spark the Bemidji Vets over the Crookston VFW 19-0 in the first of a doubleheader at the BSU diamond.

The 19-run shelling was sweet revenge for Bemidji as in its last outing against Crookston, it lost a 10-0 lead in the fifth, only to lose 14-13 in seven. The Vets had been one strike from wrapping up the game in the fifth, when Crookston scored four runs to keep the game alive and eventually win it.

Bemidji started the scoring early, grabbing a 1-0 lead, and then added seven more in the second and six in the third, knocking out Crookston's starting pitcher, Justin Lessard. The Vets added five more runs in the fourth in an already ugly contest.

John Strowbridge started the scoring early in the first when he reached base on a dropped ball by Crookston's catcher after he struck out. He advanced home on back-to-back singles by Justin Skipton and Paul Fenner.

In the second inning, Bemidji sent 11 men to the plate, scoring seven runs on four hits. Rob Hiltz was the first to reach base on a walk, and then he stole second base. Tom Neiman singled to move Hiltz to third, and he would then score on a wild pitch.

Josh Hovde was the next to the plate, and he smacked a fly ball to Crookston's left fielder, Robby Westrom, who bobbled the ball, and Neiman came home. Strowbridge moved Hovde over with a single, and he would score on another Crookston error. Skipton reached base on the play.

Skipton and Strowbridge were the next Bemidji Vets to march home on Crookston errors when their shortstop missed a grounder to left-center field. Fenner and Kolby Bruns would score the final two runs of the inning, coming home on a Crawford double to right center.

Bemidji continued its hit parade in the third, scoring six more on five hits, giving the home team a 14-0 lead after three. Neiman was the first to reach on a single, and he was brought home the very next batter when Hovde hit an inside-the-park home run to the fence in right field.

Two batters later, Skipton reached base on a fielder's choice and advanced to third on a passed ball and a wild pitch. Up next, Danny Schmidt walked to get on, and Fenner followed with a one-out single that scored Skipton.

Bruns stepped to plate as the next batter and singled in Schmidt. Adn wrapping up the scoring for the inning, Fenner and Bruns were brought in on a Crawford single.

Crookston faced much of the same in the fourth, when Bemidji sent 11 men to the plate, scoring five runs on four hits. Hove, Strowbridge, Schmidt, Bruns and Crawford crossed the plate in the inning.

Crawford lead Bemidji's batters with a 3-4 night, with 5 RBIs and one run scored, and Neiman also added three hits. Hovde, Fenner and Bruns each had two hits in the game. Hiltz pitched four innings, giving up only one hit and two walks, and striking out six. Luke Rasmus finished the game, pitching one inning and allowing one hit and throwing two strikeouts.

With the win, the Bemidji VFW improved its district conference record to 15-10, and its overall record to 19-14. The Vets upped their record to 2-1 against Crookston prior to the night cap game Friday.

The VFW's next action comes Monday in a doubleheader at BSU diamond against Perham starting at 1 p.m., which will wrap up the regular season for the team. Bemidji will then host the area VFW District Tournament July 24-27.

Game Two

The Bemidji VFW took it ot the Crookston VFW again in the night cap of the doubleheader Friday, pounding them 15-1 and breaking their tradition this year of splitting twin bills.

Bemidji wasted no time in the second game, jumping out to a 7-1 lead after the first inning on three strong hits, two walks and a hit-batsman.

Crookston's only run came when the runner reached base on a fielder's choice, and then stole second. An error by Bemidji's John Morton brought him home.

In Bemidji's half, Mitch Webb first reached base after being hit by a pitch and was homered home by Matt Dahle, who batted next. Rasmus then reached on a double, followed by Ryan Johnson and Chris Kelsey on consecutive singles, and all three later scored. Jeremy Brown and Dominic Gates each walked to board, and would both score to make the lead 7-1.

In inning two, Dahle started it all again with a leadoff double, followed by Kelsey who reached base on an error three batters later. Next, Bemidji would knock in five straight hits beginning with a Brown single, a Morton single, a Gates single, an Anthony Acosta single and Webb ended it all with a triple. The count after two was 14-1.

Bemidjji tacked on its final run in the third on a Johnson solo home run, making the score 15-1.

Rasmus pitched two innings to start for the Vets, giving up one hit and one walk, and striking out two. Fenner would finish out the game, taking the win and allowing one hit and one walk and striking out six. The win moved him to 3-0 on the season.

Three Vets each had two hits to pace the home team, with Acosta gaining a pair of singles, Dahle knocking in a homer and a double and Johnson grabbing a single and a dinger.

Crookston 000 00 -- 0 2 5

Bemidji 176 5X -- 19 15 2

Lessard, Knutson (3) and Houghtya

Hiltz, Rasmus (4-1) (4) and Crawford

Crookston 100 00 -- 1 2 3

Bemidji 771 0X -- 15 12 2

Coautte and Houghtya

Rasmus, Fenner (3-0) (3) and Dahle