Hayfield heads to state; Winona ends Bears season

Hayfield’s Vikings sailed through the title game over Southland, 9-0, on Tuesday, June 7, at Riverland to earn a spot in the state baseball tournament this week.

Hayfield’s Nolan Klocke allowed just one hit and recorded 12 of the 21 outs via strikeout, en route to another Vikings Class A Section 1A championship. Klocke dazzled throughout, taking a no-hitter into the fifth inning, to help the defending Class A champions to their third consecutive Section 1A title.

It also capped off a section tournament in which Hayfield outscored its opponents, 39-4, in four games, and advanced to their third consecutive state tournament, that kicks off June 14 in St. Cloud.

Hayfield Hitting: Easton Fritcher, 2 for 3, 2B, BB, R, RBI, SB; Nolan Klocke, 1 for 2, BB, SAC, 2 runs scored, RBI, SB; Karver Heydt, 1 for 2, 2 BB, 2 runs scored; Isaac Watson, 3 for 3, 2 2B, BB, 4 RBI, run scored; Aidan Nelson, 0 for 4, RBI; Ethan Pack, 1 for 4, RBI; Zander Jacobson, 0 for 4; Eric Bermea, 1 for 3; Hunter Simonson, run scored; Kobe Foster, 0 for 0, 2 BB, HBP, 2 runs scored, 3 SB.

Hayfield Pitching: Nolan Klocke, 7.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 12 K, 1 BB.

True team rally boosts Winhawks past Bears

It couldn’t have been more exciting, and it certainly wasn’t more heart-breaking for the Byron baseball boys in their Section 1AAA championship game (7-6 loss) versus Winona, on Wednesday, June 8, at Austin’s Marcusen Park.

Winona, the No. 3-seed, overcame a 6-1 deficit to defeat the top-seeded Bears. The Winhawks were behind in two different games against Byron in the Section 1AAA baseball tournament this spring, and both times, Winona snatched come-back victories.

On Wednesday, Byron led 6-1, after four innings and 6-4 heading into the seventh, prior to the Winhawks pulling-off its incredible victory. This go-around, the Bears looked to be in control once again, versus Winona.

Byron senior pitcher John Lutzi had allowed one run, but he took a no-hitter into the fifth inning. He threw 100 pitches for the Bears in the previous round on Saturday. The state berth is Winona’s first since 1991, well before any of the current players were born. They begin play in the Class AAA State tournament next Tuesday.

Winona: Eli Denisen, 1 for 4, 2 RBI; Ethan Merchlewitz, run scored; Quinn Larsen, 1 for 2, RBI, 2 runs scored; Carter Shields, 1 for 3, RBI; Jonathan Heftman, 2 for 3, 2B; Tyler Kelner, run scored; Carson Jones, 1 for 3; Marcus Winter, 1 for 3, 2 RBI, run scored.

Pitchers: Carson Jones 3 1/3 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 1 K; Carter Shields 2 2/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K; Marcus Winter (WP) 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K.

Byron: Reid Bielen, run scored; Jake Isaak, 1 for 4; Isaiah Brennan, 2 for 4, 2B, RBI, 2 runs scored; Tyler Fox, 2 for 4, 2 runs scored; Jake Coshenet, RBI; Kaelin Huebert, 1 for 3, RBI, run scored; James Durst, 1 for 3, run scored.

Pitchers: John Lutzi 4 2/3 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K; Isaiah Brennan (LP) 2 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 K; Tyler Fox 1/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K.