Cloquet Boys In Section Finals

Wes Vork-NSO

Click here for the Cloquet vs Mora box score

Click here for the Cloquet vs Hermantown box score

Click here for additional Cloquet vs Mora game photos

Click here for additional Cloquet vs Hermantown game photos

June 5, 2012

Dwight Cadwell-NSO

HERMANTOWN- The Cloquet Lumberjacks won a pair of games Tuesday afternoon and advanced to the section finals against the Rails of Proctor on Thursday at Fichtner Field in Hermantown. Cloquet ended the Mora Mustangs season with a 6-1 Tuesday afternoon and then in the nightcap it was the Lumberjacks shutting out the Hermantown Hawks by a score of 2-0 as Hermantown sees their remarkable season come to an end Tuesday.

It was six hits and ten bases on balls which created issues for the Mustangs as Cloquet scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Cloquet’s first three batters walked, and a two run single from Trent Moe gave Cloquet the early lead. The Jacks added another run in the second inning when Kellin Lamirande singled and came around score on a sacrifice fly from Kaleb Kadelbach.

Cloquet added two more runs in the fourth inning when Kadelbach and Adam Hanson both scored to give Cloquet the 6-0 lead. Mora scored their lone run in the top of the sixth inning when Derek Graves scored an unearned run to cut the lead to 6-1 and that is where the game would end. Kadelbach and Trent Moe each collected two hits in the Lumberjack win and Adam Hanson picked up the complete game win for Cloquet.

The win over Mora moved Cloquet into a battle with conference foe Hermantown as the Hawks and Cloquet would play with the hopes of facing Proctor in the section championship game Thursday. The Hawks, who lost 9-0 earlier in the day to Proctor were looking to rebound and move into the section title game; but it was Cloquet who used solid defense and timely hitting to pull out the two run victory that ended the Hawks season as they finish 19-3 overall.

Cloquet scored one run in the top of the second inning when Trent Moe singled to start the inning and came across on an RBI from freshman Gavin Takkunen to give Cloquet a 1-0 lead. The Lumberjacks added one more run in the top of the fifth inning when Cole Johnson scored the second run for the Lumberjacks. Johnson singled, then scored when Lamirande grounded out which gave Cloquet a 2-0 lead.

Hermantown had several chances to come through and put some runs on the scoreboard, but could not get the key hit when they needed it. Several great defensive plays by the Lumberjacks including three huge plays at short from Adam Hanson and two double plays ended all of the Hawks scoring chances. “I struggled a bit and made some errors early in the season. They contemplated moving me to center field and right there I turned it around. I wanted to play short, I’m a shortstop and that’s where I always want to play. I’m just glad I was able to help my team tonight.”

Taylor Blundell pitched a suburb game for Cloquet picking up the win Tuesday as he went all seven innings allowed seven hits, struck out one and walked three. “The original plan was to have me pitch the first game, start the second game and then have Taylor come in; but we decided to go with Taylor for the whole game, no regrets there” commented Hanson after the game. “That’s great senior leadership there, that’s Taylor Blundell.”

After the game, first year head coach Rick Norrgard was very happy with all aspects of the Lumberjacks game. “We came up big tonight; it’s a great win for the kids and the team. We had timely hits along with great pitching and defense… and how about a freshman coming up big with two hits in such an important game.”

Although Blundell’s terrific pitching and senior leadership was key to the victory, he was quick to pass the credit to his teammates, telling Northland Sports Online, “We played such a good game as a team I was just fired up to beat Hermantown they are such a great team. Hanson had some strong plays at short which helped to keep me focused on the game.”

Assistant coach Rick Stowell’s assessment of the game came back around to Blundell’s efforts. “When we were down to an elimination game, Taylor Blundell just pitched his heart out. He threw strikes, kept the ball down; he had struggled against Proctor the other day and wanted this one bad and the senior came through for us.” Stowell further explained “It was our best defensive game of the year by far, clutch hitting, great small-ball baseball.

Kevin Stocke took the loss for Hermantown, allowing two runs, one earned, while striking out five and walking only one batter. Joe Muench and Matt Lord each finished with two hits in the loss for Hermantown, Gavin Takkunen had two hits for Cloquet in the victory.

Cloquet improves to 18-6 on the season as they will play Proctor in the section championship game. The teams have played twice on the season with each team winning once.

The defending Section 7AA champion Rails won the section for the first time in 35 years last season by winning two games in the championship round. Cloquet comes in with the exact same resume’ having won two games in the finals a year before to advance to state for the first time in 35 years also. Whoever wins on Thursday, the Section title and a trip back to Dick Putz field will come around a lot sooner than the three plus decades it took before.

The Rails come into Thursday unbeaten and need just one victory, while the Jacks would need to win twice to advance to the state tournament, something that Cloquet seemed more than up for. “We wanted this chance to play for the section title and now we get our chance,” stated Blundell. Coach Norrgard agreed with his star pitcher, stating “I’m just glad we are playing Thursday, the coaches and I will be looking tomorrow at our game plan for Proctor.”

The game is scheduled for 5:00pm in Hermantown with a second game to follow if needed.

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at dwight@northlandsportsonline.com