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Forest Lake 1, Chisago Lakes 0

River Bemlott and Logan Thorstad pitched a combined four-hitter and allowed just one run against the Forest Lake Rangers.  But the Wildcats did not score against the Rangers and lost 1-0 in the final game of the 2023 regular season.  The game was played at Chisago Lakes High School Thursday, May 25.

Bemlott pitched the first three innings and allowed no runs on two hits.  He walked three and struck out two.  Thorstad pitched the final four innings.  He allowed one earned run on two hits, walked three and stuck out three.  The Rangers scored the only run of the game in the top of the fifth on a pair of two-out walks and a single.  The Wildcats put two runners on base in four different innings but failed to get a runner across the plate.  In the bottom of the seventh, pinch hitter Andrew Mandell was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning.  Logan Thorstad walked one out later, putting runners on first and second.  But Jack Walker grounded into a second to short to first double play to end the game.

Section 7AAA Playoffs - Duluth Denfeld 5, Chisago Lakes 1

The fourth-seeded Duluth Denfeld Hunters exploded for five runs in the bottom of the second inning and went on to beat the fifth-seeded Wildcats 5-1 in the opening game of the Section 7AAA baseball tournament Tuesday, May 30 at Duluth Denfeld High School.  The loss sent the Wildcats (8-12) to the elimination bracket.  This Saturday, they will meet the loser of this afternoon’s game between the second-seeded North Branch Vikings and the third-seeded Grand Rapids Thunderhawks.  If the Vikings win, the game will be played at North Branch High School.  If Grand Rapids wins, the Wildcats will head up north to the Grand Rapids Sports Complex  for the game.  The game time has yet to be determined.  The winner of that game will play at Grand Rapids on Tuesday, June 6 at 11 a.m., and will need to win twice that day to advance to the section championship game or games on Wednesday, June 7 at Grand Rapids.

Denfeld led 1-0 with two outs and a runner on third in the bottom of the second inning.  Two singles, two walks and two errors led to four more Denfeld runs.  The Wildcats scored their only run in the top of the fifth.  Caden Gibbs walked to lead off the inning.  One out later, courtesy runner Jacob Showers scored on a triple to right by Owen Larsen.  But that was all the offense for the Wildcats as they went down to defeat.  Jack Walker pitched a complete game for the Wildcats.  He allowed five runs (three earned) on four hits, walked three and struck out six.  He pitched an effective game, other than the disastrous second inning.

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