LITTLE FALLS-Hunter Swanson went 3-3 with a home run, double and two RBIs for the No. 1 seeded Little Falls Flyers, who defeated No. 2 seeded Bemidji 3-0 Thursday to advance to the Section 8-3A championship next Wednesday.
Justin Jenks threw all seven innings to earn the win striking out eight and walking one, while allowing four hits. At one point, he struck out four consecutive batters on 12 pitches.
Thomas Miller contributed a double and Austin Weisz had two singles.
Bemidji 0 4 2
Little Falls 3 7 0
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WP: Justin Jenks. LP: Matt Morgan. 2B: LF-Hunter Swanson, Thomas Miller. HR: LF-Swanson. Overall: LF 18-5. Little Falls in Section 8-3A championship game at St. John's University noon Wednesday; second game, if necessary, 2 p.m. Wednesday.
Pierz 8, Melrose 2
ST. CLOUD-Michael Meyer was 2-for-3 with three RBIs for East's No. 2 seeded Pierz in their 8-2 Section 6-2A winner's bracket victory over West's No. 1 Melrose Thursday.
Matt Kummet went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI and Brett Kapsner was 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored.
The Pioneers' Kolton Eischens pitched the win and Matt Kummet came on in relief to earn the save.
Pierz 8 11 2
Melrose 2 4 3
WP: Kolton Eischens. LP: Colton Meyer. 2B: P-Matt Kummet, Brett Kapsner. 3B: P-Aaron Weber. Overall: P 19-4. Next: Pierz in Section 6-2A tournament at St. Cloud: winner's bracket game vs East's No. 1 St. Cloud Cathedral at Putz Field 7 p.m. Monday.
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Aitkin 14, Virginia 1
DULUTH-Sam Peterson finished 3-for-3 with three runs, four RBIs and a triple during the Aitkin Gobblers 14-1 win over the Virginia Blue Devils in the Section 7-2A loser's bracket game at Wade Stadium Thursday.
Jeb Sanford was 2-2 with two runs and one RBI and Jake Westerlund and Jack Kuppich each recorded two RBIs for Aitkin.
Wyatt Sanford struck out nine, allowed only three hits and one earned run.
Aitkin 14 13 2
Virginia 1 3 1
WP: Wyatt Sanford. LP: Jack Penala. 3B: A-Sam Peterson. Overall: A 19-3. Next: Aitkin in Section 7-2A losers bracket game at Wade Stadium, Duluth, 7 p.m. Friday.
St. Cloud Cathedral 3, B-H/Verndale 2
ST. CLOUD-Mack Jones tallied two RBIs and one double during the West No. 7 Bertha-Hewitt/Verndale Raiders 3-2 loss to the East No. 1 St. Cloud Cathedral in Section 6-2A winners' bracket game Thursday.
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Mitchell Blaha finished 2-for-3 with a double for the Raiders against the defending 2A champions.
B-H/Verndale 2 4 0
Cathedral 3 4 2
WP: Tyler Bautch. LP: Mitchell Blaha. 2B: BHV-Mack Jones, Blaha. Overall: BHV 11-12. Next: BHV in Section 6-2A tournament at St. Cloud: Losers bracket game at Faber Field, 5 p.m. Monday; Losers bracket game at Faber Field, 7 p.m.
Foley 8, Pequot Lakes 2
ST. CLOUD-Casey Welsh finished 2-for-3 with two doubles during the West No. 4 Pequot Lakes Patriots 8-2 loss to the East No. 3 Foley in Section 6-2A losers' bracket game Thursday at Putz Field.
Pequot Lakes 2 9 1
Foley 8 10 2
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WP: Ethan Lehman. LP: Tanner Brosh. 2B: PL-Hunter Larson, Chad Christianson, Anthony Tizzano, Casey Welsh 2. 3B: PL-Jared Sewall. Overall: PL finishes 11-11.
