We are Grantsburg Subscribe

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

West Lakeland Boy’s Basketball Standings

West Lakeland Girl’s Basketball Standings

Grantsburg loses to Clear Lake tonight to drop their third game to start the season. It started out pretty well for Grantsburg as it looked like they would be the first to score. Unfortunately, a fumble at the goalline and a recovery by Clear Lake ended that threat and from there Clear Lake scored 17 unanswered points and led at halftime 25-14. The final score was 46-14. Clear Lake had won the previous two games by a combined score of 95-24. They are also the defending West Lakeland champions. They were very good and will probably be good for the next couple years as they have a very good quarterback. He had nearly 100 yards rushing, a kickoff return for a touchdown and can throw a very nice ball. He took one shot deep in the game as he lofted a beautiful spiral downfield about 40 yards in the air. He had good air under the ball and just overthrew his intended receiver. Several other outstanding athletes line the Warrior roster. While a loss like that is tough to take, there were some positive things to be said about the game. Grantsburg had some nice sustained drives and were able to pick up a lot of yards on the ground, over 230. They were also able to connect in the passing games at times. Josh Phillips was quarterback Trent Bonneville’s favorite target as he threw to him about 8 times. Phillips caught four of them. Grantsburg starts this season out with four home games. Unfortunately they have dropped the first three. Grantsburg’s next test will be against the Luck Cardinals who were 2-0 coming into tonight’s game with Cameron at home. They defeated Cornell 47-6 last week and the week before they defeated Prairie Farm 45-6 (Clear Lake beat Prairie Farm 47-0). So another tough task lies ahead for the Pirates. I am privileged to broadcast the games on WXCX 105.7 FM as the play-by-play announcer. We will be broadcasting the Grantsburg/Luck tilt next Friday. Our volleyball schedule starts soon too…