Section 7AA Baseball Tournament: Early Victories and Standout Moments
The Section 7AA baseball tournament kicked off with a flurry of action as Duluth Marshall swept two early games, posting an 8‑0 shutout of Chisholm and a 10‑0 victory over Rush City. Both wins showcased a potent offense and a pitching staff that kept opponents off the scoreboard.
Easton Grumdahl sparked the Marshall offense with a leadoff triple, and teammates Brody Carlson and Junior Lucero added their own triples. On the mound, Minsoo Park limited Chisholm to two hits while striking out four in 4⅓ innings, setting the tone for the team.
In the second game, Grumdahl was nearly perfect at the plate, going 3‑for‑3 with three RBIs, while Evan Lammi contributed two hits and two RBIs. The 10‑0 final underscored the team’s offensive firepower and depth.
Other schools also found success. Moose Lake/Willow River edged Proctor 6‑3, with Jackson Walker delivering a hit and two RBIs and Parker Samarzia scoring twice. Pitcher Hayden Danelski tossed 2⅓ innings, allowing three hits and striking out four, though Proctor rallied in the fifth with RBIs from Antrelle Yoki, Paxton Kosloski and Jaxon Hardy.
Barnum secured a 2‑0 win over Silver Bay behind a strong outing from Connor Black, who struck out eight over seven innings, and a timely RBI from Carter Hautajarvi.
Carlton/Wrenshall completed the sweep of opening‑round action with a 6‑2 triumph over Littlefork/Big Falls. The Raptors struck out six batters over 3⅔ innings, and RBI singles from Cayden Manning, Mason Goetz and Drew Bartczak helped fuel the offense, while Jack Vernon collected two hits.
With several teams advancing, the tournament schedule is set to continue on Thursday, promising more high‑stakes matchups as the season progresses.