Senior Parker Moquist threw the final strike that propelled No. 2-seeded East Ridge to a 4-3 win over Cretin-Derham Hall in a Class 3A, Section 4 matchup on Tuesday at Midway Stadium in St. Paul.

Moquist, who hadn't pitched in a game in two years, struck out the last three batters he faced and celebrated with his teammates on the mound after the final out.

“It’s pretty surreal, God has a plan and it was great to get back out there,” Moquist said.

Despite not throwing a pitch the past two seasons, Moquist said the injuries that kept him out have healed and his arm has been feeling good. He said he had a feeling he was going to have a chance to pitch because he and the coaching staff flirted with the idea as the regular season ended.

Raptors coach Brian Sprout said Moquist had a lights-out performance.

Before Moquist took the mound, the Raptors built a first-inning lead on Zachary Wahl's RBI single.

The Raptors took a 3-1 lead in the second inning as the hot East Ridge bats kept finding a way to score runs. Sprout said it is a great feeling being on top early in a game as opposed to battling back, which is mentally and physically draining.

“I think it is big in any playoff game to get out there and get a jump on someone,” Sprout said.

The winning run came in the bottom of the third when junior Carter Stoehr notched an RBI double, giving East Ridge a 4-1 lead. The bats of the Raptors cooled down but the pitching and field play of East Ridge stepped up.  

Sprout said at this point in the playoffs the little things win games. He he said his team executed on the those and made some plays when they had to.

Cretin-Derham Hall had chances to tie the game as it built some momentum going into the sixth inning down just one run, but the infield play of the Raiders proved to be too much to overcome.

Senior Drew Molin got the start for the Raptors and finished with seven strikeouts. 

Molin and the Raptors move on to play the Mahtomedi on Saturday night at Midway Stadium.

“Mahtomedi is going to be good, but we are going to come at them hard,” Molin said. “We got a few days to practice and we’ll be ready.”

Senior Parker Moquist threw the final strike that propelled No. 2-seeded East Ridge to a 4-3 win over Cretin-Derham Hall in a Class 3A, Section 4 winner's bracket matchup on Tuesday night at Midway Stadium in St.Paul. 

Moquist who hasn't pitched in a game in two years, struck out the last three batters he faced and celebrated with his teammates on the mound after the final out. 

What proved to be the winning Raptors run came late in the third inning as junior Carter Stoehr doubled into the outfield, giving East Ridge a 4-1 lead. The bats cooled down for the Raptors, but it was their defense that picked up the slack as they successfully defended their lead.

Senior Drew Molin got the start for the Raptors, and he delivered four strikeouts in the first inning and finished with seven. 

Cretin-Derham Hall built some momentum in the fifth inning, closing to within 4-3, but the Raptors' defense came through with a big double play that stopped a Raiders rally in the sixth. 

East Ridge moves on to play Mahtomedi on Saturday night at Midway Stadium.

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