GRAND RAPIDS - Alex Kotaska didn't swing her bat, but still sent the Pequot Lakes Patriots to the Section 7-2A championship Tuesday.
With the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning in the Section 7-2A semifinals, Kotaska walked to drive in the winning-run for a 5-4 victory.
Hermantown tied the score in the top of the seventh. In the eighth, Barbara Miller led off with a bunt single. Laura Squires, who finished 2-3 with two RBIs, doubled. Hermantown walked Hannah Zimmerman and then walked Kotaska.
It's Pequot's first victory over Class 2A's fifth-ranked Hermantown. The Hawks topped Pequot in the 2013 Class 2A state tournament and beat them in last year's Section 7-2A championship.
Kathryn Miska struck out 13, walked two and allowed three earned runs on five hits helping Pequot to its 15th straight win.
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Miksa also hit a two-run home run as the Patriots climbed to a 4-0 lead in the second inning.
Hermantown 4 5 2
Pequot Lakes 5 5 1
8 innings
WP: Kathryn Miska. LP: Breanna Thomas. 2B: PL-Laura Squires. HR: PL-Miska. Overall: PL 21-2. Next: Pequot Lakes in Section 7-2A finals at Grand Rapids, championship 4 p.m. Thursday, second game if necessary 6 p.m. Thursday.
International Falls 8,
Aitkin 3
GRAND RAPIDS - International Falls jumped out to a 3-0 edge and the Aitkin Gobblers could never recover as they lost 8-3 in the loser's bracket game of the Section 7-2A tournament Tuesday.
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Rachel Curtiss went 2-3 at the plate and struck out one from the mound as she took the loss.
Kaley Considine finished 1-3 with a run and an RBI for the Gobblers.
Aitkin 3 5 2
International Falls 8 8 0
WP: Teagan Anderson. LP: Rachel Curtiss. 2B: A-Maria Chouanard, Claire Browning. Final: A 13-8.
