Baseball chasing conference title
The Hermantown climbed to the top of the Lake Superior Conference baseball standings last week.
Hermantown sits at 7-3 in conference play and 9-6 overall entering the final stretch of the regular season, holding a slim edge atop a tightly-packed LSC race. Cloquet remains close behind at 6-0 in conference action and 10-4 overall, while Rock Ridge Wolverines is third at 4-4.
The Hawks opened the season in emphatic fashion April 10, sweeping a doubleheader at Rock Ridge by identical 13-2 scores. Hermantown dropped back-to-back games to Cloquet and Duluth Denfeld, including a wild 14-13 loss to Denfeld on April 16 at Fichtner Field that exposed early-season pitching inconsistency and defensive lapses. Five days later, the Hawks rebounded with an 11-0 road victory over Proctor Rails before suffering a one-run loss at Cloquet in another key conference matchup.
Four of the Hawks’ six losses have come by two runs or fewer, including a 10-9 defeat to Princeton at Wade Stadium and a 5-4 setback at Cloquet. Even several victories required late execution, including a 3-2 win at Grand Rapids and another 3-2 victory over Esko on May 5.
After falling 8-5 at Apple Valley on May 2, Hermantown stabilized its season with three consecutive victories. The run began with the narrow win over Esko before Hermantown defeated South Ridge 6-1 on May 7 and followed with a 5-3 road victory at Hibbing the next day.
The Hawks also picked up notable wins earlier this season against Hibbing, Proctor and Duluth Denfeld. Hermantown has reached double digits offensively five times already this spring.
Now comes the finishing stretch.
Hermantown has eight regular-season games remaining, beginning Wednesday at home against North Branch at Centricity Park Fichtner Fields. The Hawks then travel Thursday to face Duluth Marshall in another important conference matchup before returning home Friday against Chisago Lakes.
The final two weeks of the regular season include home games against Proctor on May 18 and May 25, a home matchup with Grand Rapids on May 19, and a May 22 road doubleheader against Bemidji at Bemidji State University.
For a Hermantown team that has spent much of the spring surviving one-run games, the final stretch may ultimately decide whether the Hawks can hold off Cloquet and capture the conference championship outright.
Softball pieces together winning streak
Hermantown has pieced together one of the stronger late-season pushes in northeastern Minnesota softball as the Hawks head into the final week of the regular season.
Hermantown enters the stretch run with a 9-4 record and winners in nine of its last 12 contests, including a 12-2 victory over Duluth Marshall on Friday at Rose Road Field.
The Hawks opened the season April 10 with a narrow 7-6 loss at St. Anthony Village High School before rebounding four days later with a pair of victories at North Branch. The Hawks rolled past North Branch High School 19-4 and followed with a 6-2 victory over Chisago Lakes High School.
One of Hermantown’s earliest setbacks came April 16 in an 8-7 loss to Cloquet High School at Braun Park.
The club responded with one of its most complete stretches of the season.
Hermantown defeated Denfeld High School 13-1 on April 21, edged Superior High School 9-8 on April 28, then blanked Proctor High School 10-0 later that same day. The Hawks added another one-run victory April 29, slipping past Greenway/Nashwauk-Keewatin 7-6 at Rose Road Field.
Tournament play in Becker on May 2 showcased both Hermantown’s resilience and offensive firepower. The Hawks dropped a 6-5 decision to Coon Rapids High School before bouncing back with victories over Westonka High School and Cloquet. Hermantown scored 22 combined runs in the two wins, including a 15-5 victory over the Lumberjacks.
The Hawks have also endured their share of close losses. Hermantown fell 3-2 to Princeton High School on May 7 in another one-run game before responding the next day with the 10-run victory over Marshall.
Weather has continued to affect the schedule. Games against Bemidji High School and Rock Ridge High School were postponed earlier this season, adding further complications to an already condensed spring calendar.
Now comes the busiest portion of the regular season.
Hermantown is scheduled to host Grand Rapids High School and Hibbing High School on Tuesday before traveling Wednesday to face Duluth East High School. The Hawks then close the week with a doubleheader Thursday at Esko High School before wrapping up the regular season Saturday at Big Lake High School.