The Esko Legion baseball team kicked off the District 8 Division II playoffs with a solid 6-2 win over Deer River on Tuesday in a game played in Nashwauk, Minn.
"We started the scoring in the second inning," mentioned coach Jeff Emanuel. "The rally started with two outs and Jake Olson on first after a walk."
Olson advanced to second on a stolen base, Sam Nigon was then hit by a pitch and Brett Johnson legged out an infield hit to load the bases.
"Matt Tengesdal came through with a single to center to score two runs," explained Emanuel. "This left Johnson at third and Tengesdal at first and we then executed a double steal with Johnson scoring on the play."
In the third inning, Esko got busy with the bats again, this time it was a Kyle Hall single and then courtesy runner RJ Jubie stole second and advanced to third on a ground out. Olson then hustled out an infield hit and that allowed Jubie to score to make it 4-0.
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"We added a few more runs in the sixth inning," recalled Emanuel. "Tengesdal got his third and fourth RBIs of the game on a double to right center and it was another rally started with two outs."
With two outs it was Bryan Darst notching a single, Brett Johnson walking and then Tengesdal hitting a double.
Kyle Hall threw five strong innings and Deer River did not get a hit until the fifth inning. Olson came on in relief of Hall in the sixth inning and allowed just one base runner on a walk.
"What can I say about the effort we got out of [Hall] and [Olson] today?" asked Emanuel. "It was hot and humid and to get a combined two-hitter out of those two was just what the doctor ordered."
According to Emanuel it was a great team win and five of their six runs were scored with two outs.
"It is the first time the Esko Legion team has ever won the first game of the district playoffs in our short five years in existence," said Emanuel. "The ball is rolling and the efforts are showing."
Game two in the playoffs for Esko is at noon Friday in Ely, Minn., against Cook County.
