WAITE PARK-Katherine Miska's 23rd win of the season set a school record and helped the North's No. 1-seeded Pequot Lakes Patriots to their second Class 2A state tournament appearance Thursday.
Miska struck out seven to lead Pequot to a 7-5 victory over the South's No. 4-seeded Pierz Pioneers in the Section 6-2A final. The senior pitcher was also 2-3 with a double and three RBIs.
Alex Kotaska doubled in the bottom of the sixth inning to drive in two runs, which turned out to be the difference. Kotaska finished 2-4 with two runs.
"We were down in this game, well it was 1-1," said Pequot Lakes head coach Bret Sergent. "In the fifth inning, we scored three runs with two outs. Then Pierz scored four in the top of the sixth and we came back and scored three in the bottom.
"This was a total team win for us. Everyone pitched in to win this game."
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The Patriots return to state for the first time since 2013.
Pierz's Brittny Boser, who pitched the loss, finished 2-3 with a double and one run.
Pierz, rallied through the losers' bracket to reach the section final. The Pioneers lost to Pequot 5-0 April 22 when Miska threw a one-hitter against them.
Pierz 5 5 2
Pequot Lakes 7 10 1
WP: Katherine Miska. LP: Brittney Boser. 2B: PL-Alex Kotaska, Miska, P-Boser, Elizabeth Carson.
PRB sweeps Sebeka for title
Annie Semmler delivered a two-out single in the bottom of the seventh to help Pine River-Backus secure a Class 1A state tournament berth as the Tigers upset top-seeded Sebeka 8-7 in Thursday's Section 5-1A championship game at Central Lakes College.
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The Tigers defeated Sebeka 11-9 in an earlier game Thursday to remain alive in the tournament backed by Bailey Wynn, who went 3-for-4 with two RBIs, and Miah Hanson was 2-for-5 with a double and two RBIs.
Sebeka beat PR-B 4-3 April 29 and 6-5 in the subsection final May 26. It will be PR-B's first appearance at the state tournament in school history.
Game One
PRB 11 9 5
Sebeka 9 10 6
WP: Miah Hansen. LP: Ava Rathcke. 2B: Hansen.
Game Two
PRB 8 4 4
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Sebeka 7 7 5
WP: Hansen. LP: Rathcke. Overall: PRB 20-7. Next: Class 1A state tournament at Caswell Park, North Mankato June 9-10.
