We had hoped to get off to a quick 1, 2, 3 inning and get back into the dugout to hit, unfortunately, we started out slow on defense, walking 2 batters and giving up a hit.  The bases were loaded with no outs, and our defense and pitching then started to awaken.  We were able to strike out 2 batters and get the final out without giving up any runs.  As we headed into the bottom of the first inning we were hoping to start quickly and pick up a few runs.  We were able to get two runners on base with a base hit by Eston Bethel and a walk by Luke Johnson but were not able to push a run across the plate.  Luke Warner controlled the game over the next 3 innings by striking out 4 more batters without giving up any runs while giving up 3 hits over that stretch.  Our offense came alive in the second and scored 5 runs as our bottom-of-the-order started to scatter hits all over the field.  Over the next 3 innings, our offense was able to score 7 more runs as our two relief pitchers came in and only gave up 2 runs for a 12-2 win.  Luke Warner was named the player of the game going four innings and giving up no runs and striking out 6 batters as the Otters won in 5 innings.  

On Friday morning we came back to play our second game against a good PBRA team.  Our goal today was to get off to a better start than the day before, unfortunately, we struggled to field the ball in the field during the top of the first inning.  Tanner Donaghue pitched well in this inning, surrendering a walk and one hit with a couple of tough errors by the Otters that allowed an unearned run for PRBA to take a 1-0 lead.  Eston Bethel started the game off with a hit and a steal but the Otters were not able to push a run across the plate.  Tanner Donaghue worked efficiently through the next three innings while the Otter offense was able to push 5 runs across the plate.  During that stretch, Cameron Peterson and Eston Bethel both had 2 hits with Cameron driving in 2 runs, which supported the 3 and 4 hitters Tanner Donaghue and Lucus Formo who had 4 and 3 hits respectively with each driving in 3 runs.  The Otters were aggressive on the bases taking advantage of great bunts by both Micah Rasmussen and Luke Johnson which allowed the Otters to score 2 more runs in the 5th on safety squeezes.  Tanner finished the last two innings by giving up one more run with the Otter offense scoring 7 runs in the 5th and 6th innings combined.  The Otters Tanner Donaghue was named the player of the game against PRBA going 4-4 with 3 RBI and going 6 innings allowing 2 runs and getting 2 strikeouts.  

The Otters awaited the winner of the PBRA vs. Parkers Prairie for the championship game as they dueled in a tough back-and-forth game.  Parkers Prairie eventually came out as the winner and was our opponent in the first championship game.  The Otters needed to win one game while Parkers Prairie needed to defeat the Otters twice to win the district championship game.  As the number one seed the Otters again started in the field, this time getting through the inning quickly as Lucas Formo started on the mound for the Otters.  Eston Bethel started the bottom of the first inning off with a smash back up the middle for a single.  On the next pitch, Bethel was able to steal second base with Luke Johnson faking a bunt.  On the fourth pitch of the game, Luke Johnson turned on an inside pitch and roped a hit past the first baseman allowing Bethel to score the first run of the game.  The Otters were able to get another hit by Tanner Donaghue scoring Luke Johnson who had stolen second base during Donahue's at-bat.  With the Otters back on the field, we struggled to get outs and kicked the ball around defensively allowing Parkers Prairie to score 2 runs and tie up the game.  During the third inning, the Otters replaced Lucas Formo with Eli Fullhart who pitched the remainder of the game for the Otters.  Neither the Otters nor their opponent were able to score in the 3rd inning.  Fullhart was humming on the mound for the Otters while the Otter offense pushed 4 more runs across the plate in the fourth with timely hits and aggressive base running by the Otter Offense.  Eli Fullhart continued to pitch great for the Otters which was important as the Otter's offense went quiet the next two innings and were not able to score any more runs.   During the top of the 7th inning, Parkers Prairie was able to push their 3rd run across the plate, but it would not be enough as the Otters would take the championship game with a 6-3 win.  Eli Fullhart would get the win and was named player of the game going 5.1 innings giving up n earned runs and striking out 3 batters.

The Otters will now play in the State Tournament, which begins on Thursday, July 20 at Centennial Park in Moorhead.  Fergus Falls will start tournament play with a 12:30pm game against Menahga and will then face Perham at 5:30pm in pool play.  They will play Waite Park at 10:00am Friday and Little Falls at 3:00pm Friday to complete pool play.  Bracket play will take place on Saturday and Sunday.