Game one featured some timely hitting and a pitching gem by Dexter Felstul.  Felstul tossed four shutout innings allowing 1 hit with 11 K’s.  The Otters opened the scoring in the 2nd with a lead off walk by Chase Johnston followed by consecutive singles by Frank Schierer, Gus Proudfoot (2 RBI) and Owen Johnson (RBI), Landon Noon also had an important walk to extend the inning.  In the 3rd inning the Otters went to work with 2 outs- a single by Isaac Jenc, an RBI triple by Felstul and an RBI single by Johnston giving the home team a 5-0 lead.  The 4th inning started with Proudfoot and Cade Johnson singles, then walks by Hayden Heruth and Weston Youngberg along with a couple wild pitches allowed the Otters to score 3 more insurance runs.  Owen Johnson came in to slam the door on Alex in the 5th inning to secure an 8-2 victory. 

In game two the Otters were again the home team against a great hitting Prairie River Thunder team.  The Otters needed the win to clinch a trip to State.  The Thunder scored two runs in the 1st to take the early advantage.  The Otters got a run back in the bottom of the 1st, Kade Johnson walked and came around to score on a Felstul single.  The Thunder answered right back scoring a run in the second to take a 3-1 lead.  The Otters were able to hold the Thunder in check the rest of the way thanks to great pitching by Jenc and some spectacular defensive plays by Jude Moline and K. Johnson. The Otters broke out in the bottom of the fourth with a Weston Youngberg walk, followed by hits from K. Johnson (2b) and  Jenc (1b) to set the table for a bases-clearing Felstul triple to put the Otters on top for good.  Jenc started the game throwing four solid innings with 8K’s and 3 hits allowed, Kade came on in the 5th for the save. 

In the championship game Johnston took the hill and pitched 2-1/3 very effective innings.  The Otters scored early with patient AB’s working several walks and running the bases aggressively.  They scored 9 times in the first  two innings.  Cade Johnson and Isaac Jenc led the offensive attack with 2 hits each in the game.  The Otters ended the game in 3 innings with the 10 run lead to take home the hardware. 

With the win the Otters will play in the state tournament in Mankato July 23rd-25th.  

Hitting leaders for the tournament:

4-Felstul and Jenc, 3-C. Johnson, 2-K. Johnson and Proudfoot, 1-Johnston, Schierer, O. Johnson, and Moline.