EM blanks Colfax for sweep, keeps baseball title hopes alive

by Samuel Ripp

ELK MOUND — The Colfax and Elk Mound baseball teams went head-to-head for the second time this season on Monday, May 16 at Elk Mound in a large-division conference showdown.

And like their first meeting, the Mounders blanked the Vikings winning the home-and-home season series with an 11-0 victory. Elk Mound prevailed 13-0 in a April 25 meeting in Colfax.

The win helped the Mounders keep pace with Durand, who were 12-0 winners over Plum City. The Mounders are 10-2 in the large conference standings just a game back of the front-running Panthers.

Elk Mound started the game off by scoring two runs right away in the first inning with a RBI double from senior Cole Tyman and a fielder’s choice that scored Tyman later in the inning.

The Mounders added on to their lead in the third inning, as they scored three more runs.

Elk Mound would finish off Colfax in the fourth inning by scoring six runs and end the game after five innings.

Senior Brandon Bohl was on the mound for Elk Mound and threw the complete game shut out while striking out ten and only allowing three hits and a walk. Bohl was only in trouble in the first inning when he allowed a single and then a double to put two in scoring position, but then struck out sophomore Mitch Kiekhafer to end the Colfax threat.

The Mounders collected nine hits in the game. Sophomore Ethan Kjellberg led the Elk Mound hit parade with three junior while Trey Mohr, Cole Tyman, senior Ryan Conlin, junior Hunter Adleman, senior Grant Kjellberg, and junior Carter Pritchard each had one.

Elk Mound tallied ten RBIs on their eleven runs on the afternoon and adding to their season total included: junior Dane Lew, Tyman with two, Ethan Kjellberg with two, senior Alex Hollister, Ryan Conlin, Hunter Adleman, Grant Kjellberg, and Carter Pritchard.

This was also the first game of the year that Dane Lew was able to play but he did not register an official at bat as he was walked once and had two sacrifices.

On the mound for Colfax was senior Jarrod Rudi. Rudi lasted three and a third inning allowing eight runs, seven of which were earned, on five hits and five walks. Rudi struck out two Elk Mound batters.

Brady Simonson came in for only two thirds on an inning to close out the game. He allowed two earned runs on four hits.

The Vikings only managed three hits off of Bohl. Sophomore Brett Schindler had a double, and seniors Ben Christianson and Zach Meyer had singles.

Colfax was set to host Glenwood City Thursday, May 19 while Elk Mound had a home contest against Pepin/Alma.

Elk Mound is still in the hunt for the conference title, but will need some help before the regular season wraps up.