Max Lovell’s 2-run single capped a 3-run 8th inning and 7th-seeded Linton held on for an 11-8 victory over 2nd-seeded Ellendale in the opening round of the Section 2 American Legion Tournament in Oakes on July 23.

Linton, which posted a 2-10 record in section play during the regular season, and came in as the bottom seed of the tournament, improved to 13-22 on the season, while Ellendale fell to 18-9. Linton’s victory was not the biggest upset of the day, as top-seeded LaMoure, which had a bye first-round bye, fell to Edgeley in the second round.

Linton got on the board first with a pair of runs in the top of the second inning. Justin Purintun drew a walk and Nathan Meidinger rapped a single to start the inning, and then Kevin Schneider singled to plate Purintun with the first run. Two outs later, Ryan Hoffman connected for an RBI single for a 2-0 advantage.

Ellendale would respond with 5 unanswered runs, including 2 in the bottom of the 2nd on a 2-run single by Ethan Emery. Ellendale would add 2 more unearned runs in the bottom of the 3rd to take its first lead of the game, and another unearned run in the bottom of the 4th extended the lead to 5-2.

Linton fought back immediately, plating 3 runs in each of the next two innings to regain the lead. In the 5th, Jamie Sathren led off with a walk, and Purintun followed with a single to center. An error on the centerfielder allowed both runners to move up a base, and then Meidinger singled to score Sathren from third and chase Ellendale starter Joe Peldo. One out later, Lovell reached on an error, which allowed Purintun to score, and after Meidinger swiped third, he would score on Jon Pavlicek’s ground out to the shortstop to tie the game at 5 apiece.

After Ellendale went down quietly in the bottom of the inning, Linton rallied for 3 more runs in the top of the 6th to open up its biggest lead of the game. Brady Weber led off with a single to right, and he went all the way to third on a ground out by Sathren. With Purintun at the plate, Weber came home on a passed ball to give Linton a 6-5 advantage. Purintun would then single, steal second, and score on an error off the bat of Meidinger for Linton’s second run of the frame. Meidinger, who went to second on the play, would score two batters later on a double by Lovell for an 8-5 lead, but Lovell was gunned down trying to stretch it into a triple to end the inning.

Ellendale, however, would answer right back in its half of the frame. With one on and two out, Blain Mikkonen singled to bring the potential tying run to the plate. Linton starter Nick Weismantel then threw the ball away while trying to pick off Carson Ellwein at third, which allowed Ellwein to score, and moved Mikkonen to second. After a walk to Tyler Reisenauer, Matt Huettl belted a double over the head of leftfielder Brady Weber to plate Mikkonen and Reisenauer to deadlock the game at 8-8.

Huettl’s hit also chased Weismantel, and he was relieved by Brandon Weber, who would turn in a fine performance the rest of the way. Weber gave up a single to Jesse Daniels that wasn’t deep enough to score Huettl, and with runners on the corners, he got John Sayler to tap back to the mound to finally end the rally.

After Linton went down in order in the top of the 7th, Ellendale put together another threat with a chance to end the game in the bottom of the frame. Tyler West reached on a throwing error to start the inning, and he moved to second on the play to get into scoring position. However, Weber got Emery and Ellwein to fly out without advancing the runner, and after issuing an intentional pass to Peldo, Mikkonen hit a line drive that second baseman Colin Hulm snared to end the threat and send the game into an extra frame.

Linton wasted no time regaining the lead for good. Brady Weber led off with a walk, and stole second just two pitches later. After Sathren struck out, Purintun was intentionally walked, and Meidinger popped out to second for the 2nd out.

However, Schneider rapped a single to left, and Weber just beat the relay to home to put Linton on top, 9-8, and both runners moved up a bag on the throw to the plate. Lovell then followed with a single to center to score Purintun and Schneider for an 11-8 cushion.

Weber got the first two outs of the bottom of the 8th without the ball leaving the infield, as Reisenauer and Huettl each popped out, and after walking Daniels, Weber got Sayler to fly out to Schneider in centerfield to end the game. Weber allowed just 2 hits and 2 walks in two and a third scoreless innings for the victory.

Weismantel, who did not figure in the decision, allowed 8 runs on 7 hits with 5 walks and 5 strikeouts in 5.2 innings. Huettl, who came on in relief in the 5th, allowed 6 runs on 6 hits with a pair of walks and 3 strikeouts in 4 innings while taking the loss. Peldo allowed 5 runs on 8 hits with 4 walks and 3 strikeouts in 4-plus innings.

Meidinger, who reached base four times, had a game-high 3 hits, scoring 3 times and knocking in a run, while Purintun reached base 5 times (3 walks) with a pair of hits and 4 runs scored. Lovell (2B, 3 RBI), Schneider (2 RBI, run) and Hoffman (RBI) each had 2 hits for Linton. Hulm, Brady Weber (2 runs) and Pavlicek (RBI) each had one hit for Linton.

Peldo (run), Mikkonen (2 runs) and Emery (2 RBI) had 2 hits apiece, while Huettl (2 RBI, run), Daniels and Sayler (run) each collected a hit for Ellendale.