SLP Orioles Advance to Section Winners Bracket Final

 It was the bottom of the order that put the St. Louis Park Orioles on top as the ninth batter Henry Odens hit a two run triple in the bottom of the third inning to lead them to a 4-1 win over the Minneapolis Southwest Lakers Saturday afternoon in the Section 6AAAA Baseball Tournament at Derrick Keller Field at Dakota Park.  

Orioles starting pitcher Kristofer Hokenson breezed through the first three innings like traffic heading down Dakota Ave.  He struck out the first five batters and seven of the first nine.  He was supported by the St. Louis Park offense that scored three runs in the bottom of the second.  With one out, Graham Sullivan walked and Brady Walsh was hit by a pitch.  Odens came to the plate and drove both runners home with a two run triple.  He would also cross the plate on Ben Farley's RBI single.  

There would be no consecutive no-hitters for the Orioles as Hokenson faced the Lakers in the top of the fourth.  Andrew Fazio and Alex Barbatsis would hit consecutive singles but it would go for naught since Hokenson fanned Aidan Moran.  

Both teams would tally in the fifth.  Southwest got their run that started with Mason Olson's single and he advanced to third on Finn Joshi's base hit.  Joshi would get picked off at second base and Olson would steal home.  St. Louis Park would add another run when Odens got his third RBI of the game on a single that scored Walsh.  It would wrap up the scoring and the Orioles had a chance to widen their lead in the bottom of the sixth with the bases loaded.  Unfortunately, it didn't come since Andru Vela and Sullivan flied out to end the game.  

Hokenson, who will play next season at the University of Minnesota, pitched a complete game and strick out 13 batters.  

St. Louis Park won their fifth straight game and improved their record to 16-6.  They will play in the winners bracket final on Wednesday, June 1 against the Hopkins Royals at 4:30 PM.  Minneapolis Southwest had their 12 game winning streak come to an end and fell to 19-2.  The Lakers will face the Edina Hornets on Tuesday, May 31 at 4:30 PM, also at Hopkins High School.