St. Thomas Academy's Duke Coborn (19) and Raleigh Droel (32) met at home plate after scoring in the seventh inning against Austin. Photo: Shari L. Gross • shari.gross@startribune.com
Austin was short of pitching and St. Thomas Academy took advantage of it Friday.
The Cadets used nine hits and seven walks to outscore Austin 9-5 in the Class 3A semifinals at Siebert Field on the University of Minnesota campus.
“We knew we could hit any pitcher they threw at us,” said Cadets senior Joe Goulet, who led the offensive attack going 2-for-3 with three RBI. “We’re coming together as a team at the perfect time.”
Goulet opened the scoring with an RBI single in the Cadets’ four-run third inning. The cleanup hitter increased the margin to 6-0 with a two-out, two-run double in the fourth.
“Getting to the state championship game is a lifelong dream come true,” Goulet said. The top four hitters in the Cadets’ lineup accounted for seven hits.