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The Pirate guys flirted with disaster all game and it finally wound up catching up to them in the seventh inning.

The Pirates fell 5-1 to the Elk Mound Mounders in the sectional semi-final game, giving up four runs in the top of the seventh to end Grantsburg’s remarkable season.

The game was close until then. Both teams scored one run in the sixth inning, then that fateful seventh inning for the Pirates. The leadoff hitter was hit, there were two or three walks and a couple hits in there that combined for four runs in the final frame.

The Mounders (what kind of mascot is that, anyway? Is it some sort of politically correct compromise? If I were a mound I’d be pretty offended) pitched extremely well giving up only four hits and striking out five. Their pitcher was in control most of the game.

The Pirates had won eleven in a row and they had a chance to win the game. They dodged early bullets by throwing two runners out at home… in the first inning! The first was Nolan Hanson to Ben Larson with Larson tagging out the advancing runner. The second came with the bases loaded and the batter bounced it to pitcher Thane Larson who threw it home for the force then Larson gunned it to first baseman Jake Ryan for a rare 1-2-3 double play.

Though the season didn’t end the way the Pirates and their fans would’ve liked to have seen, the team represented their home town well and they deserve our congratulations. They played ball like it should be and they were rewarded with a great season and a trip to Sectionals. Only sixteen teams get to do that every year.

Congrats, Pirates!

Really cool photo courtesy of Marianne Shira

This is kind of a late post about the doubleheader in Siren on Tuesday, but as you know life isn’t always the most agreeable to a set timetable.

Both the girls and boys games ended in lopsided victories. The Grantsburg boys went on and stayed undefeated in the conference by beating the Dragons 75-45. Coach Jon Ruud tried to take the air out of the ball by running a ball control offense and it worked for a while, but eventually the Pirates pulled ahead forcing Siren to take more shots and it all went downhill for the Dragons from there. All the players for Grantsburg scored except for Jake Ryan. I’ve noticed that Jake does a very good job dishing the ball, but rarely shoots. I don’t think he even attempted a shot in the game.

The girls game ended with the Dragons completely outmatching the Pirates.  The final score was 76-53. The Emery sisters had good games and I think Janey Emery ended with 17 points. Siren remains ranked 7th in the state for Division 4 basketball.

The bright spot for Grantsburg was Kortney Morrin who again scored over 20 points (she’s averaging 23.5 ppg in the West Lakeland conference). She is the fourth leading scorer in division 3 with a 20.4 ppg average. That average is good for 17th overall in the state of Wisconsin regardless of division.