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North Branch 1, Chisago Lakes 0 (8 innings)

With the bases loaded and no outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, Viking Tanner Helin hit a grounder back Wildcat pitcher Ian Larsen, and the throw was too late to get Noah Thorsen at home, giving the Vikings a 1-0 win over the Wildcats at North Branch High School Monday, April 15.  Helin started for the Vikings and went five innings.  He allowed four hits, walked three and struck out eight.  Andrew Orf picked up the win with three innings of scoreless relief.  He allowed two hits, walked three, and struck out two.  Xavier Taylor started for the Wildcats.  He allowed five hits, walked two and struck out seven.  Larsen took the loss in relief, walking the first three batters he faced before Helin grounded it back to him to drive in the winning run.  Dom Torrez and Cole Stilp had two hits apiece for the Wildcats, and Viking Lucas Goggin also had two hits, including a double.

The Wildcats loaded the bases in the second and fifth innings but couldn’t push across any runs.  The Vikings loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the fifth, but  Orf grounded into a double play to kill the rally.  In the top of the sixth, Stilp and Lucas Weinzetl led off the inning with back-to-back singles for the ‘Cats.  But after Ian Larsen laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners up, Jack Bjelland grounded back to the pitcher and was thrown out at first for the second out as the runners held.  Jadon Greene grounded out to end the inning, keeping the game scoreless.

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