The Sacred Heart Eagles held a lead for the first five innings but could not hold on as the Red Lake County Rebels stormed back for four runs in the final two innings, leading to a 4-2 victory in the West Subsection title game in the Section 8A tournament.
FIRST INNING-
The Rebels were retired in order in the top of the 1st inning, as Parker Erickson induced two strikeouts and a groundout to first.
After a strikeout started the bottom of the 1st, Parker Erickson got things going with a one-out single. After a groundout moved Erickson over, an error at third scored Erickson, making it 1-0 Eagles. Nick Satturlund and David Larson then recorded back-to-back singles to load the bases, but a groundout ended the inning, keeping it at 1-0.
SECOND INNING-
Kegan Schmitz led off the top of the 2nd inning with a single to left field. Schmitz then stole second, and Brock Seeger hit a deep fly to center field, but Micah Zavoral climbed the fence and robbed Seeger of a homerun. Schmitz moved to third, but a strikeout and groundout ended the inning, stranding Schmitz at third and keeping the Rebels scoreless.
In the home half of the inning, Liam Larson led off by reaching on an error. However, he would be left stranded, as the next three batters were set down, keeping the score at 1-0 after 2.
THIRD INNING –
After a leadoff groundout started the top of the 3rd, Denny Lanctot ripped a double to right field, looking to get something going. However, Erickson retired the next two batters on a lineout and a strikeout to keep the Rebels scoreless.
After a popout started the bottom of the 3rd, Jake Satterlund got things started with a walk. Then, after a flyout, a walk to Larson put two on base, but a groundout to second ending the inning for the Eagles.
FOURTH INNING-
Ben Gullingsrud saw the first pitch of the 4th inning and ripped it to center field for a leadoff double. After moving to third on a groundout, Gullingsrud tried to score on another ground ball, but Jake Satterlund gunned him down at the plate for the second out. A flyout would then end the inning, once again leaving the Rebels scoreless.
Will Gieseke struck out the first two batters in the home half of the 4th before Isaac Sundby reached on the third Rebel error of the game. Sundby would then steal second, and Parker Erickson would be put on intentionally for Elliott Arntson, who drove in Sundby with an RBI single to make it 2-0 Eagles. A Jake Satterlund base hit loaded the bases, but for the second time in the game, the Eagles left them loaded on a groundout, keeping the score at 2-0 after 4.
FIFTH INNING-
The first two Rebel batters would be retired on a strikeout and a groundout before Denny Lanctot reached on a two-out walk. However, a quick flyout to right ended the inning, locking in 5 scoreless innings for Parker Erickson.
David Larson got the Eagles started with a leadoff walk in the home half of the 5th inning. However, after a sacrifice bunt moved him to second base, a lineout and a strikeout ended the inning, keeping the score at 2-0 after 5 innings.
SIXTH INNING-
Gunnar Halvorson struck out to lead off the inning, but reached first base on a wild pitch. After he reached second on a passed ball, Ben Gullingsrud drove him in with an RBI single, cutting the lead to 2-1. Then, after a stolen base, Kegan Schmitz tied the game at 2 with an RBI double. A strikeout put one away, and a groundout moved Schmitz to third with two away. But then, a wild pitch scored Schmitz, giving Red Lake County their first lead, at 3-2. Chervestad would then get a base hit, but a groundout ended the inning.
After a flyout started the inning, a single by Erickson and a double by Arntson put two in scoring position with one away. However, Gieseke delivered his most clutch pitching performance of the day, as he struck out the next two batters to end the inning, allowing the Rebels to cling on to a 3-2 advantage.
SEVENTH INNING-
After back-to-back infield popouts started the top of the 7th, Gunnar Halverson was hit by a pitch to put a two-out runner on. He then stole second, and Ben Gullingsrud came through again, driving in the run to provide insurance, giving the Rebels a 4-2 lead. Erickson was then pulled for Arntson, and he induced a groundout to end the inning.
Gieseke set down the Eagles in order on a flyout, a groundout and a popout, winning the game for the Rebels by a score of 4-2.
Red Lake County improves to 20-4 on the season and will play Win-E-Mac in the Section 8A semi-finals at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday at Bemidji State University. KROX will have the game on KROX. Sacred Heart drops to 15-6 and will play Blackduck at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday at Bemidji State University. KROX will have the game on the radio.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
| Red Lake County | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 3 |
| Sacred Heart | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 1 |
OFFENSIVE LEADERS –
Sacred Heart-
Parker Erickson – 2 for 3, BB
Elliott Arntson – 2 for 4, 2B, RBI
David Larson – 1 for 2, 2 BB
Red Lake County-
Ben Gullingsrud – 3 for 4, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 2 SB
Kegan Schmitz – 2 for 4, 2B, RBI, SB
Owen Chervestad – 1 for 3
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB/HBP | K |
| Parker Erickson-SH | 6.2 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 7 |
| Elliott Arntson – SH | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Will Gieseke – RLC | 7.0 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
