Minnehaha Academy, St. Cloud Cathedral reach Class 2A baseball final

ST. CLOUD – In the bottom of fourth inning, Minnehaha Academy pitcher Alex Fedje-Johnson slapped his hands together emphatically after hitting a lead-extending RBI triple.

The jubilation was back about an hour later, when Fedje-Johnson chest bumped catcher Alan Ho after the game's final out.

It was an emotional day for the third-seed Redhawks as they upset previously undefeated Rochester Lourdes 6-2 in the Class 2A baseball state semifinals at Dick Putz Field.

The Redhawks earned a rematch against St. Cloud Cathedral, the only team they lost to this season, in Monday's championship game at Target Field.

"We've dreamt about this for a couple of years," Minnehaha coach Scott Glenn said. "… We really fought hard and went out and earned it. We played good defense, and Fedje was strong on the mound."

Minnehaha Academy played without senior captain and shortstop Peter Webster, who was ill. But others stepped up in his absence. Ford Schroeder filled in at shortstop and went 3-for-4 with an RBI. Center fielder Andrew Wolpert went 2-for-3, including an RBI double in the fifth inning. Left fielder Nick Terlizzi went 2-for-4 with a run scored.

Second-seeded Rochester Lourdes (25-1) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on a sacrifice fly from shortstop Daniel Burriss.

Minnehaha (26-1) took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second, taking advantage of three walks and a hit batter.

But the Eagles answered back in the third, tying the score at 2-2. Zach Hillman led off the inning with a single, stole second, and was singled in by catcher Henry Wittren.

Minnehaha regained the lead for good in the bottom of the third when designated hitter Matt Ganter hit a deep sacrifice fly to score Fedje-Johnson.

"Getting to the state championship and eventually, hopefully winning it has been one of our goals all year," Fedje-Johnson said. "It's a great feeling."

St. Cloud Cathedral 5, Marshall 2: Cathedral coach Bob Karn calls pitcher/outfielder Brindley Theisen "even-keeled" and a "terrific competitor."

He was all that in the first Class 2a semifinal. Theisen — who will attend St. Cloud State next year on a basketball scholarship – pitched a two-hitter, struck out seven and also doubled at the plate, leading the Crusaders over fourth-seeded Marshall.

St. Cloud Cathedral (24-0), the top seed, will seek its 50th consecutive victory in the state championship game Monday.

"There's no better feeling in the world," Theisen said as he walked off the field. "I felt really good out there. Warm weather, my arm was ready to go. I had over a week's rest.

"I was fired up. I just wanted to get our team back to Target Field to try and defend our title."

The Crusaders have won eight state titles overall under Karn in 18 previous state tournaments.

Cathedral jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, aided by three singles and three stolen bases — two by leadoff hitter Josh Thyen. Second baseman Dominic Austing singled in Thyen and shortstop Jack Schramel singled home Austing.

The Crusaders doubled their lead to 4-0 in the fourth. Right fielder Bryant Bohlig singled in designated hitter Nathan Giambruno. Thyen then followed with a sacrifice fly to right to score courtesy runner Jeremy Hartung.

In the fifth inning, catcher Jack Bock of Marshall (24-5) hit a two-run double to cut the deficit in half.

Cathedral added an insurance run in the top of the seventh as Theisen doubled home Austing.