Berths set for Prep Championship Series

The championship fields are set for the Minnesota State High School League’s Prep Championship Series on Friday, June 18 at Target Field in downtown Minneapolis. Here is a look at what happened on Day 2 of the baseball state tournament:

Class A

Semifinals

Top-seeded Hayfield cruised into the Class A championship game with a 16-0 victory over Springfield in five innings in the first semifinal at Joe Faber Field in St. Cloud. The Vikings (25-0) posted seven runs in each of the third and fourth innings en route to earning a berth in the small-school title game for the first time in two state tournament trips. Hayfield’s previous state tournament appearance was in 2019. Shortstop Erik Bungum powered the Vikings by going 2 for 3 with three runs scored and four runs batted in. On the mound, Joey Tempel gave up two hits and struck out nine.

New York Mills outlasted Randolph in a see-saw, heart-stopping semifinal that lasted nearly four hours in a 9-8 victory in 15 innings. Second baseman Jace Randolph ended the marathon with a two-out RBI double that sends the Eagles (23-2) to the championship game for the third time. In 2019, New York Mills was runner-up to BOLD. Extra innings were needed after the score was tied at 1-apiece after seven regulation innings. Randolph scored three runs in the top of the 12^th, only for New York Mills to answer with three of its own. In the 14^th inning, Randolph put on another surge with four runs in the 14^th inning, but New York Mills roared back with four of its own.

Randolph had four RBIs for New York Mills. Pitcher/third baseman Nathan Weckop had three RBIs for Randolph.

Third place

Springfield erupted for 15 runs in the first two innings to race past Randolph for a 16-2 victory in five innings in the third-place game at Joe Faber Field. Infielder Tori Helget led the surge by going 3 for 5 with three runs scored and three RBIs. Pitcher Dylan Batzlaff also had three runs knocked in.

Class AA

Semifinals

Glencoe-Silver Lake scored the game’s first 10 runs over the first three innings en route to a 13-3 victory in six innings over Plainview-Elgin-Millville in the Class AA semifinals at  Dick Putz Field in St. Cloud. Second baseman Carter Rushmeier was 2 for 4 with three RBIs for the Panthers while catcher/pitcher Zachary Voelz and right fielder Blake Micolichek each had two RBIs. It will be the first appearance in a baseball championship game for Glencoe-Silver Lake.

Belle Plaine filled out the other spot in the championship game following a 4-2 victory over Aitkin in the lower-bracket semifinal at Dick Putz Field. Belle Plaine snapped a 1-all tie with three runs in the top of the fourth inning. Right fielder Joey Burgemeister had a two-RBI double in the outburst and shortstop Luke Luskey followed with an RBI triple. Derek Hoffman went the distance on the mound and struck out six. Belle Plaine will also be making its first appearance in a baseball championship game.

Third place

Aitkin bounced back from its semifinal loss to record an 8-4 victory over Plainview-Elgin-Millville in the third-place game at Dick Putz Field. Catcher Landon Janzen was 3 for 4 with two RBIs for the Gobblers (23-6). Third baseman Brock Martinez had two RBIs for Plainview-Elgin-Millville (22-5).

Class AAA

Semifinals

Grand Rapids scored three runs in the fifth inning to break open what had been a tight contest on the way to a 4-3 victory over St. Thomas Academy at the Mini Met in Jordan. Second baseman Andrew Sundberg had two RBIs for the Thunderhawks, who will be in a baseball championship game for the third time in 19 state tournament appearances. Left fielder Tristin Thilmany had two hits and a run batted in for the Cadets.

In the lower-bracket semifinal, Mahtomedi mustered seven hits in a 7-0 victory over Sartell at the Mini Met in Jordan. Center fielder Ethan Loss and third baseman Wyatt Miller had two each to pace the Zephyrs, who were last in a championship game in 2016. Right fielder Steven Brinkerhoff had two hits for Sartell.

Third place

St. Thomas Academy and Sartell didn’t go quietly with the third-place trophy at stake. While St. Thomas Academy produced 20 hits, the Cadets (19-10) still had to outslug Sartell for a 16-15 victory at the Mini Met in Jordan. Left fielder/catcher Tristan Thilmany was 3 for 6, including a two-run single in the top of the seventh inning that would give the Cadets the lead for good. Right fielder Benjamin Taxdahl was 4 for 6 with four runs scored and five RBIs. Sartell (22-5) mustered 14 hits in producing 15 runs. Six players had two hits each.  

Class AAAA

Semifinals

Farmington earned a berth in the big-school championship game for the first time in two state tournament trips with a 3-2 victory over Minnetonka at Chaska Athletic Park. All the scoring was done in the first inning, started by Minnetonka with two runs in the top half. But Farmington quickly answered with three off the bat of center fielder Carter Hendrickson, who hit a three-run blast to left center field.

Farmington’s Zach Dohrmann surrendered just two hits and struck out five to record the victory.

In the other semifinal, Park used three runs in the top of the sixth inning to rally past Andover for a 5-4 victory. Center fielder Ben Johnson was the difference-maker with an RBI single for the winning run. Earlier, first baseman Tucker Novotny had a two-run homer for the Wolfpack. Third baseman Logan Gravink and catcher Logan Myers had two RBIs each for Andover.

Third place

Andover scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth to pull away from Minnetonka for a 6-3 victory in the third-place game at Chaska Athletic Park. Third baseman Logan Myers was 3 for 4 with two RBIs and center fielder Kyle Law also had two runs batted in to fuel the Huskies (23-5). Shortstop Walter Johnson had two hits for the Skippers (16-12) and catcher Danny Davis had a home run.