The Red Lake County Rebels used a five-run first inning and five runs throughout the rest of the game, pulling away from the Bagley Flyers by a 10-3 score, winning their second consecutive Section 8A Championship.
FIRST INNING-
Back-to-back singles put runners on the corners to lead things off for Bagley, and then they were able to execute a successful double steal, putting the Flyers up 1-0. Though they were able to load the bases, staring pitcher Boe Nelson was able to work his way out of trouble to limit the damage at one.
In the bottom of the first inning, Will Gieseke led off with a walk before Ben Gulligsrud sent one over the right field wall, giving the Rebels a 2-1 lead. After this, Colin Taggart delivered a single, Gunnar Halverson walked and Kegan Schmitz singled to load the bases. After a force out, Riley Broden drove in one run and Cain Cardinal drove in two, giving the Rebels a 5-1 lead before the first inning concluded.
SECOND INNING-
In the top of the second, Bagley was retired in order on two flyouts followed by an incredible catch by catcher Colin Taggart in foul territory.
The Rebels continued to add on in the bottom of the second. A walk and a single quickly put two runners on, and after a strikeout, Kegan Schmitz delivered an RBI single to make it 6-1. Denny Lanctot then drove in another run to make it 7-1, and the final run of the inning was scored on a sacrifice fly from Cain Cardinal, giving the Rebels an 8-1 lead after just two innings.
THIRD INNING –
Bagley got the third inning started with a base hit from Ian Phrakonkham, but he was subsequently picked off by Boe Nelson. The Flyers got another hit with two outs before a flyout ended the inning.
With one out in the bottom of the frame, Ben Gullingsrud kept his great game going with a double down the left field line. Colin Taggart then got an infield hit, but Bagley was able to turn a 5-3 double play, keeping the score at 8-1.
FOURTH INNING-
Bagley was retired in order in the top of the fourth on a flyout, a strikeout and a groundout.
RLC got a one-out baserunner on a walk to Denny Lanctot, and then with two outs, Cain Cardinal delivered a base hit to left field. A walk would load the bases, but Bradley Morse would strike out Will Gieseke to keep the score at 8-1 headed to the fifth inning.
FIFTH INNING-
After Boe Nelson started the fifth inning with a strikeout, the Flyers were able to get back-to-back singles to put two on. After a flyout, Gunner Nolan then singled to right field. However, a baserunning error caused him to be picked off before a run scored, ending the inning with the score staying at 8-1.
Colin Taggart looked to get things started in the bottom of the fifth inning with a one-out base hit, his fourth hit of the game. Halvorsen then followed with a base hit, and then Kegan Schmitz delivered an RBI single, making it 9-1 Rebels. Lanctot then hit a sacrifice fly to make it 10-1, but they were unable to win it in the fifth, as a flyout ended the inning.
SIXTH INNING-
In the sixth, Nelson caught a comebacker before giving up a single to centerfield. After that hit, Nelson got a strikeout, then gave up another base hit to left field before getting yet another strikeout to end the frame.
The Rebels got a one-out single from Boe Nelson in the bottom of the inning, but a flyout and popout would end the inning right after that, keeping the score at 10-1.
SEVENTH INNING
Bagley led off the top of the seventh inning with a double from Ethan Rud, then an infield hit to put two on with no one out.
A hit batsmen would load the bases, and then Gunner Nolan hit a two-run single to cut the lead to 10-3, warranting a pitching change. Will Gieseke came on with runners on second and first an no one out. He got a force out at third for the first out, got a strikeout for the second out, and fielded a comebacker for the third out, sending the Rebels to State for the second consecutive year.
Red Lake County improves to 15-2 on the season and will advance to the State Championship for the second consecutive year, starting in St. Cloud on Thursday, June 11.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
| Bagley | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 0 |
| Red Lake County | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | X | 10 | 15 | 1 |
OFFENSIVE LEADERS –
Red Lake County-
Colin Taggart – 4 for 4
Ben Gullingsrud – 2 for 4, HR, 4 RBI, HBP
Kegan Schmitz – 3 for 4, 2 RBI, SB
Bagley-
Ian Phrakonkham – 4 for 4, SB
Gunnar Nolan, 3 for 4, 2 RBI
Hayden Hanse – 1 for 3, 2 SB
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB/HBP | K |
| Boe Nelson -RLC | 6 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| Will Gieseke -RLC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Ian Phrakonkham -Bagley | 1.1 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 1 |
| Bradley Morse -Bagley | 4.2 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
