HERMANTOWN-Wyatt Sanford wasn't going to be outpitched by his brother.
The two juniors pitched two gems in the Section 7-2A loser's bracket Tuesday to advance the Aitkin Gobblers to the championship game.
Jeb Sanford pitched Aitkin to 3-1 victory over Duluth Marshall in the early game.
In the nightcap, Wyatt Sanford struck out four and allowed just one earned run on three hits and five walks in the Gobblers 6-1 defeat of top-seeded Esko.
Aitkin 6, Esko 1
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Aitkin jumped on the Eskomos early as Sam Peterson hit a two-run double that scored Wyatt Sanford and Jake Westerlund. Wyatt Kokesh then scored on a wild pitch to hand the Gobblers a 3-0 edge.
In the fifth, Jeb Sanford singled to score Kokesh. Peterson and Sanford then scored on a Logan Cluff single.
Esko picked up a lone run in the bottom of the fifth despite having the bases loaded.
Jeb Sanford finished 2-4 with a run and an RBI to help avenge an earlier loss to Esko. The Eskomos beat Aitkin 8-2 May 7 in the Hinckley-Finlayson tournament.
The Gobblers will face Proctor in the section final.
Aitkin 6 7 1
Esko 1 3 1
WP: Wyatt Sanford. LP: Cole Litsey. 2B: A-Sam Peterson. Overall: A 22-3. Next: Aitkin vs. Proctor in Section 7-2A championship at Wade Stadium in Duluth 5 p.m. Thursday.
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Aitkin 3, Marshall 1
HERMANTOWN-Dylan Quade doubled in Drew Nordean and Sam Peterson to lift the Aitkin Gobblers to a 3-1 victory over Duluth Marshall in Tuesday's loser's bracket game of the Section 7-2A playoffs.
Quade's big hit came in the top of the eighth. With one out, Nordean doubled and Peterson singled. With two outs, Quade stepped to the plate and belted a shot to centerfield.
Aitkin scored first in the second when Peterson opened with a walk. He then stole second and scored on an error. Peterson finished 2-2 with two walks and two runs scored.
Logan Cluff hit a double and Jeb Sanford and Jack Kuppich collected Aitkin's other two hits
Duluth Marshall clipped the Gobblers 6-1 April 15.
This time Jed Sanford silenced the Hilltoppers with seven strikes. He allowed one earned run on two hits and three walks.
Aitkin 3 7 2
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Marshall 1 2 2
WP: Jeb Sanford. LP: Peter Lenz. 2B: A-Logan Cluff, Drew Nordean, Dylan Quade.
