Minnehaha Academy pitcher Alex Evenson, wearing an oversized gold chain around his neck, walked into the concession area at Dick Putz Field, where fans cheered and hugged him and his teammates after their 8-3 victory over Maple Lake in the Class 2A baseball semfinals.

The Redhawks give the neckware to the team’s player of the game, the one who is “cash in the clutch.”

Evenson, who was 2-for-3 with a double, single and RBI, had not pitched in about a month because of a left shoulder injury. It still bothered him Friday, and he thought he would only throw about 70 pitches.

As it turned out, he threw 119 in 6 2/3 innings and struck out 10. He allowed just two earned runs.

After Maple Lake scored one run in the first inning and Evenson took a line drive off the leg, he seemed to pitch with more composure – even if he did briefly have a noticeable limp.

“Once the adrenaline pumps, and you get hit in the leg, everything kind of goes away,” Evenson said.

Minnehaha Academy trailed 3-2 after Maple Lake’s Hunter Malachek hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth. The Redhawks responded with a one-run double from first baseman John Goth. An inning earlier, Goth made a jumping catch of a line drive that robbed a Maple Lake of a hit and kept the bases empty before Malachek’s shot over the right field fence.

Goth said being down just one run, instead of two, helped his team's psyche heading into the next inning. After Goth’s double, Minnehaha Academy took the lead on a run-scoring single from Bennett Theisen.

The next inning, Simon Huyck led off with a well-placed bunt and advanced to third when Maple Lake pitcher Grant Mergen's throw went over the first baseman.

The mistake seemed to rattle Mergen, who hit a batter and then gave up a two-run double to Kenny Kiratli to give the Redhawks a four-run lead. It grew again when Evenson added his double. 

Minnehaha Academy advanced to the Class 2A baseball state final with a 8-3 victory over Maple Lake (23-3) on Friday at Dick Putz Field in St. Cloud.

With his team trailing 3-2, first baseman John Goth tied the game for Minnehaha Academy (25-2) in the sixth inning when he doubled to score a runner from first base. The defending state champion Redhawks would score the game’s final six runs.

An inning before his double, Goth made a jumping catch that robbed a Maple Lake player of a hit. The defensive play proved key in saving a run, as the next batter, Maple Lake star Hunter Malachek, hit a home run. It was Malachek’s second home run in as many days.

Minnehaha pitcher Alex Evenson threw 6 2/3 innings, allowed two earned runs and struck out 10.

Check back later for more on the game.