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Section 7AAA

south sub-sections-

Round Two

Chisago Lakes 5

Big Lake 2

Pat Collins knew just what to say. After Big Lake charged back to tie the game 2-2 in the top of the sixth inning last Thursday in round two of the south sub-sections, Collins gathered his team and shared one simple, yet powerful thought.

“That just makes the story even better. Now let’s get it done.”

It did, and they did, answering with three runs in the bottom of the sixth to wrap up a 5-2 win, advancing to the section semifinals.

The game started off with two Chisago runs, one in the first and one in the second. Batting in the bottom of the first, Jimmy Achartz scored the first run of the game after scoring on a wild pitch. Then in the second, senior Josh Pearl added to the Wildcat lead, knocking in Derrick Olson to increase the Chisago lead to two.

However, the wheels began to fall off late in the game. Facing Wildcat starter Matt Stomberg, the Hornets got on the board in the fifth with a single before scoring the game tying run in the sixth thanks to a Wildcat error. Things actually could’ve been worse as Big Lake left runners on first and third, leaving the go-ahead run 90 feet away.

It was an opening the Wildcats took advantage of. Leading off the bottom of the sixth, Thomas Moody walked. Then with one out, after a Karl Lee single, Olson was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. After Todd Froberg popped out, Pearl was also hit by a pitch, scoring Levi Jones (pinch running for Moody) for the 3-2 lead. Finally, Achartz gave the ‘Cats an added cushion with a towering two-run double to left center, pushing the Wildcat lead to 5-2.

From there, Stomberg took care of business in the seventh, getting Big Lake 1-2-3. Two of the outs were ground ball outs right to Danny Reed. The win advanced Chisago Lakes to the section 7AAA final four, matching them up with Grand Rapids, the number one seed in the north, in the semifinals.

Chisago Lakes 5

Big Lake 2

R H

Big Lake 000 011 0 2 3

Chisago Lakes 110 003 X 5 5

Achartz 2-4, 2 RBI, R

Unger 0-2

Reed 0-3

Moody 1-2, R

Collins 0-3

Lee 1-3, R

Olson 0-2, 2 R

Froberg 0-2

Pearl 1-2, 2 RBI

WP: Stomberg (6-2)

Section 7AAA

south sub-sections-

Round One

Chisago Lakes 4

St. Francis 0

Twenty-four hours earlier, the ‘Cats snuck by the St. Francis Saints in the first round of the section 7AAA south tournament, defeating St. Francis 4-0. It was the perfect revenge after the Saints defeated the Wildcats earlier in the season, one of their five regular season losses.

The game was scoreless until the third. That’s when Jimmy Achartz knocked in Todd Froberg for the first run of the game, jumping the ‘Cats into the lead 1-0. Chisago added two more an inning later, highlighted by a Kyle Collins solo home run to left-center field. Collins struck again in the fifth with another RBI, this time coming on a double, driving in Thomas Moody from first. The 4-0 lead was more than enough for the ‘Cats in the field as the Saints managed only one hit the rest of the way.

Mike Golv picked up the win on the hill, his seventh of the season. At the plate, Collins and Mark Unger each finished the game with two hits. Collins and Achartz accounted for two RBI’s apiece.

Chisago Lakes 4

St. Francis 0

R H

St. Francis 000 000 0 0 3

Chisago Lakes 001 210 X 4 8

Achartz 1-4, 2 RBI

Unger 2-4

Reed 0-1

Moody 1-3, R

Collins 2-3, 2 RBI, HR, R

Lee 0-1

Olson 1-3, R

Froberg 0-3, R

Pearl 1-2

WP: Golv (7-0)

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