Hawks Back In Championship Game Against Park Center

Carley Cadwell – For NSO

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June 9

Dwight Cadwell-NSO

MANKATO – Katie Thun tied the tournament record for doubles in a state tournament with four as the Hermantown Hawks won two games and advanced to the state championship game for the third straight year. The Hawks ten-runned the Governors of St. Paul Johnson and won 10-0 in six innings, then in the state semi-finals they Hawks beat the Cougars of Mankato East by a score of 4-2.

The Hawks scored three runs in the first inning and four in the second inning as they distanced themselves from St. Paul Johnson. Hermantown scored three more in the bottom of the sixth inning to close out the Governors and move to the state semi-finals in Class AA. Thun led a 15 hit attack as she finished with three doubles and drove in two runs for the Hawks.

Macy Francisco and Mackenzie Herzig each added three hits in the Hawks win over St. Paul Johnson. Megan Willis delivered with three runs batted in and Lindsay Kolquist also finished with two runs batted in for Hermantown. Seven of the Hermantown hits were doubles as they finished 15-29 as a team.

Thun was the winning pitcher for Hermantown. She pitched six innings allowing only one hit in the victory. Thun also struck out ten of the Governor batters she faced while not giving up one walk. The win was Thun’s 17th win of the year. Thun picked up her 18th win in the 4-2 victory over Mankato East as she allowed only two hits, two runs, both of which were unearned, and she struck out seven Cougars in the win.

The Cougars scored one run in the second inning and one run in the sixth inning but could not match the Hawks as they scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to come from behind to pick up their 18th win of the season. With one out in the fourth, Celine Francisco singled to right field and scored when Thun doubled to left center field. The throw home allowed Thun to move to third base. Sarah Stansfield reached on a fielder’s choice when the second baseman decided to hold the ball instead of making a play on Stansfield.

Megan Willis then singled to right, scoring Thun with the go ahead run. The Hawks then loaded the bases as Shane Johnson reached on a fielder’s choice, and with two outs, pinch hitter Amber Wissen singled down the right field line scoring two runs and gave Hermantown the lead they never relinquished sending them back to the championship game.

The Class AA Championship game will be a re-match of last season’s game which the Hawks lost 2-1 to Park Center. Park Center advanced by beating Pipestone by a 3-1 score in a game that was called after five innings due to weather.

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at Dwight@northlandsportsonline.com