Defending 2A baseball champ Minnehaha Academy returns to state

Defending Class 2A state baseball champion Minnehaha Academy held on for a 3-2 victory over New Life Academy in the championship game of Class 2A, Section 4 tournament on Thursday at the University of Northwestern.

The Redhawks (23-2) earned their third consecutive state tournament appearance. The state tournaments in all four classes begin next Thursday.

Minnehaha Academy led 3-1 in the seventh before New Life Academy (19-7) pulled within one. Redhawks reliever Bennett Theisen retired the final two hitters to save the victory.

Redhawks starter Brock Brumley struck out 10 in 6 ⅓ innings.

Kenny Kiratli and Simon Huyck each had two hits and an RBI for the Redhawks.

Cooper Falteisek and Aaron Bouillon each had two hits for the Eagles.

In other baseball section championships:

Class 2A, Section 5: Maple Lake outlasted Providence Academy 5-4 to earn its second consecutive state tournament berth. The Irish (22-2) had defeated Providence Academy 7-3 on Monday in the winners' bracket final.

Class 1A, Section 4: Legacy Christian earned its second consecutive trip to the state tournament with a 14-2 victory over Heritage Christian. The Lions (19-4) won the consolation championship last year in their first trip ever to state. Heritage Christian (17-9) defeated the Lions 4-3 earlier Thursday to force a second game.

Section 6: Sophomore Luke Bloedow scored twice in a three-minute span in the fourth quarter to help defending state champion Prior Lake (13-3) rally for a 6-5 victory over top-seeded and previously unbeaten Eastview (15-1). Bloedow scored with 6:21 remaining to tie the score at 5-5 and then scored the game-winner with 3:04 remaining.