St. Louis Park area teams competed in state tournaments this week as the Oriole baseball team made their first trip to state in 70 years and three Benilde-St. Margaret's teams took home medals.
First up was the St. Louis Park baseball team's first trip to the state tournament since 1952 as they faced the Maple Grove Crimson in the Class AAAA quarterfinals on June 14 at CHS Field in St. Paul. The Orioles took a 1-0 lead on Kristofer Hokenson's RBI that scored Stanley Regguinti in the top of the first inning but the Crimson, playing in their ninth state tournament, scored twice in the second and third innings to keep the Orioles from playing for the Class AAAA title. St. Louis Park was plagued by three errors, including Ben Farley's error that would add a run to Maple Grove's ledger and the Orioles were sent to the consolation bracket with a 5-2 defeat.
Things did not get any better the next morning at Parade Stadium in Minneapolis in the Battle of the Parks as St. Louis Park was routed by the Park of Cottage Grove Wolfpack 10-0 in a game shortened to five innings due to the 10 run rule. The Wolfpack put the game away with eight runs in the third inning and Jackson Tessman pitched a one hitter and struck out nine batters to end the Orioles season. But there is a bright spot to the Orioles state tournament run. Hokenson was one of seven players nominated for the Mr. Baseball award that goes to the state's top player.
If you're a Benilde-St. Margaret's fan, the news is better. Both the boys and girls lacrosse teams and the baseball team competed in state tournaments and brought back to campus trophies and medals. Starting with the girls lacrosse team, the Red Knights beat the Gentry Warriors in the quarterfinals 8-7 and lost to their Metro West Conference rival the Chanhassen Storm in the semifinals 11-8. BSM was not finished as they faced the Rosemount Irish in the third place game and Maggie Gtaczyk scored a hat trick to lead them to an 8-7 victory.
As for their male lacrosse counterparts, the Red Knights would win their second consecutive state title. BSM had no problem with the Moorhead Spuds in the quarterfinals as Carsen Brandt scored four goals and assisted on two others to lead them to a 19-4 win. Brandt would help BSM earn a championship berth with seven assists as they beat the Stillwater Ponies in the semifinals 15-10 and set up a rematch with the Prior Lake Lakers. The Red Knights would win the championship trophy on Mitch Dokman's overtime goal 10-9.
It all leads to the week's top highlight as the BSM baseball team took home their first Class AAA title trophy. In the quarterfinals, BSM capitalized on four Winona errors to beat the Winhawks 4-1. The Red Knights battled back in the semifinals with three runs in the bottom of the sixth to beat the Grand Rapids Thunderhawks 10-8. Facing the top seeded Mankato West Scarlets, the score was tied at three son the game went into extra innings. The Scarlets failed to tally in the top of the eighth inning. In the bottom of the inning, Tomas Lee singled and Sam Monk lined the ball off the left field wall to clinch the Class AAA championship. Caleb Koskie, son of former Twin Corey Koskie pitched six and one third innings and struck out 12 batters.
A big week for St. Louis Park area teams. There were highlights. There were lowlights. And that concludes the high school sports season in Minnesota. Fall sports practice begins August 15.
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