St. James defeats Searles

in Tomahawk East action

BY JIM BASTIAN

Journal Sports Writer

SEARLES ­ St. James' Doug Ekstrom literally doubled his fun Sunday afternoon in Searles as he banged out three doubles and drove in five runs to lead St. James by Searles 13-8 in Tomahawk East League play.

Nate Erickson picked up the pitching win for the A's (3-4) .

Casey Lux took the loss for the Grizzlies (4-5) in relief of starter Aaron Breu. Breu yielded six runs in 5 /13 innings before giving way to Lux.

Brandon Zenk had two hits and two RBI for Searles.

St.James would notch three runs in the top of the first inning when Brandon Olson singled, Justin Kaus reached on an error and Doug Ekstrom was hit by a pitch to load the bases.. A passed ball, an Al Brekke sacrifice fly and a Doug Burman base hit lifted the A's to a 3-0 lead.

Searles scored one run in the bottom of the inning as Mike Portner walked and eventually scored on a wild pitch.

The Grizzlies scored three times in the bottom of the second to take a 4-3 lead. Paul Buboltz and Brandon Zenk singled and when the ball got by right fielder Dave Gray, both runners moved up a base. Joe Tietel's bunt scored Portner. A walk filled the bases before a fielder's choice and an error gave Searles the lead.

Nelson then put the Grizzlies into hibernation as St. James would take a 9-4 lead after seven innings.

Three runs scored for St. James in the fourth inning. John Branstad singled,went to second on a groundout and scored on Brandon Olson's double.Kaus walked before Ekstrom belted the first of his three doubles to take a 4-3 lead.

Two more runs came across for the A's in the fifth when Branstad walked and Randy Helget singled setting the stage for Ekstrom's second two bagger of the day and an 8-4 lead.

Ekstrom's third double of the game scored St. James' ninth run before the Grizzlies plated three runs in the bottom of the eighth. Mark Grossmann's RBI single and a two-run single by Brandon Zenk pulled Searles closer to St.James.

But three Searles errors in the ninth inning resulted in four St. James runs.

Searles would score their final run of the game in ninth on a St. James error.

ST. JAMES 300-320-104=13-15-3

SEARLES 130-000-031=8-7-4