After starting slow on the mound, Parkers Prairie senior pitcher Andrew Johnson recovered to lead the Panthers back to the Class 1A baseball tournament championship game.

Johnson and top-seed Parkers Prairie dispatched Red Rock Central/Westbrook-Walnut Grove 8-3 on Friday in the semifinals at Jordan’s Mini Met.

He allowed two Falcons’ runs in the first and another in the third. From there, he retired 12 consecutive batters.

At the plate, Johnson added a single, double, home run, drove in four runs and scored twice against the No. 4 seed Falcons (23-4).

“I just wanted to help my team out the best I could today,” Johnson said.
The Panthers (25-2) play at 10 a.m. Monday at Target Field. They lost in the title game in extra innings last season.

Parkers Prairie returns to the Class 1A state baseball championship seeking a title the Panthers lost in extra innings last season.

On Friday they defeated Red Rock Central/Westbrook-Walnut Grove 8-3 in a semifinal game at the Mini Met in Jordan.

No. 1 seed Parkers Prairie (25-2) advanced to the state championship game scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday at Target Field.

The Panthers got a complete-game victory from Andrew Johnson, who also hit a two-run home run. The team's nine hits included a pair of RBI doubles.

Johnson started slow, allowing two runs in the first and another in the third. From there, he retired 12 consecutive Falcons’ batters.

No. 4 seed Red Rock Central/Westbrook-Walnut Grove (23-4) made its state tournament debut this season.