Hermantown Rolls Rails In Section 7AA Playoffs

Wes Vork-NSO

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May 27

Dwight Cadwell-NSO

COHASSET- Hermantown continued on their quest to defend their state Class AA title when, on Thursday afternoon, they rolled over Proctor 11-1 in five innings. The Hawks exploded for five runs in the bottom of the first inning and never looked back as they cruised into the Section 7AA semifinals at Braun Park in Cloquet.

Hermantown jumped on Proctor in the bottom of the first inning, scoring five runs on six hits. The Hawks opened the inning with four straight hits before recording their first out. Julia Gilbert singled, stole second base, and then scored on an RBI double from Rudi Summers. Summers then scored on a RBI single from Megan Mullen.

Mullen added the third run of the inning coming in to score on a RBI double from Ellen Folman. Steph Thun then collected the first of her three hits on the afternoon with a triple that brought in Folman and with it the fourth run of the inning. Shawna Johnson’s single scored Thun with the fifth run of the inning.

The Hawks continued to roll as they added runs in the second inning. Gilbert scored from third on a sacrifice fly from Mullen and the Hawks led 6-0 after two innings. Hermantown added three more runs in the third inning. Thun, Olivia Carlson, and Celine Francisco all scored runs in the fourth. Francisco and Mullen added RBIs in the inning.

Hermantown capped off their scoring in the fourth inning by adding two more runs on four hits and taking a 11-0 lead into the top of the fifth. Proctor scored their lone run in the top of the fifth with a double from Aubrey Knox. She advanced to third on an illegal pitch and scored the Rails lone run of the game on an infield ground out from Annikka Steel.

Megan Mullen continued her perfection in the playoffs on the mound as she pitched four perfect innings, while striking out ten Rails batters. Katie Thun pitched the final inning, giving up one run on one hit. Thun also struck out two batters. Steph Torgeson took the loss for Proctor.

Hermantown finished with eleven runs on sixteen hits while stranding five runners on base. The Hawks move to 19-3 overall on the season and will face Duluth Central on Tuesday afternoon in Cloquet.

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at dwight@northlandsportsonline.com