Northfield and Hayfield One Game From State

The Northfield Raiders were the No. 1 seed in Section 1 Class AAA, and are one game from heading to the state tournament.

The Hayfield Vikings were the No. 2 seed in the West Subsection of Section 1 Class A and are also just one win from a state berth.

On Saturday, the Raiders trailed Owatonna 2-0 heading into the bottom of the third and then six runs in the third and seven runs in the fourth to collect a 13-2 win in five innings. Sophomore pitcher Hunter Koepp did exactly what his coach said he would do. Coach Peter Maus told KDHL that Koepp is composed and doesn't walk guys; he's not overpowering, but gets the job done. He finished the game with three strikeouts, one walk and just three hits allowed while throwing 76 pitchers in his five innings of work.

Owatonna scored two runs with two out in the third to take the early lead. All their hits came in that inning. Of the 15 outs recorded, six were fly ball outs, six were ground ball outs and and the others strikeouts.

Every Northfield batter got involved in the scoring. All nine batters scored at least one run. Senior Tommy McDonald is the table setter with four trips to the plate in the lead-off spot and four times on base. He smacked a single and a double and scored twice. Junior Caleb Malek had two hits, including an RBI double. Senior Cody Polzin tallied two singles, scored twice and had an RBI. Senior Quinten McGregor had two hits and two RBI. No. 8 hitter in the Raider order, Adam Rodgers, and No. 9 Joey Eckhoff were up to bat six times and got on base four. Rodgers clubbed a two-RBI double and Eckhoff cracked a two-RBI single and scored twice.

The Huskies then defeated the Hastings Raiders 2-1 in walk-off fashion in the elimination bracket game. No. 9 hitter Nick Deno had the single in the bottom of the seventh that plated Isaac Rocha for the win. Rocha stole second base, then Blake Westphal singled, but Rocha couldn't score. Following a walk to Brent Solie, Deno came through with the game-winning hit.

Owatonna plays Northfield for the section title Tuesday in Red Wing. Northfield needs just one win and Owatonna must win two games to advance to the state tournament.

In other Section 1 action, Hayfield needs just one win to advance in Class A. Saturday the Vikings defeated Lewiston-Altura in the winner's bracket game 4-3 and will play them again Tuesday at Hudson Field in Rochester. Fillmore Central ended Goodhue's season 7-2 Saturday morning and then Lewison-Altura downed Fillmore Central 4-1. The Cardinals have to beat Hayfield twice to advance.

In Section 1 Class AA it's a repeat of a year ago. Top seed Rochester Lourdes rolled over St. Charles in the winner's bracket 13-1 in five innings. Kasson-Mantorville downed Caledonia/Spring Grove 11-10 and then dispatched St. Charles 4-0. Last season K-M beat Lourdes twice and went to state for the second straight year. They'll have to do it again Tuesday at Mayo Field in Rochester. Lourdes is unbeaten this season.