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Glencoe-Silver Lake rolls to shutout, 2A championship

By JIM PAULSEN, Star Tribune, 06/18/21, 5:00PM CDT

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A five-run fourth inning by the Panthers broke open a close game and pitcher Drew Hedtke held Belle Plaine to just one hit en route to a 10-0 victory.


Glencoe-Silver Lake's Drew Hedtke threw the last pitch to clinch the Class 2A baseball championship Friday at Target Field. Photo: ELIZABETH FLORES • liz.flores@startribune.com

It’s kind of a chicken or the egg argument: Does good pitching lead to good hitting? Or is it the other way around?

When you have both, the way Glencoe-Silver Lake did in its 10-0, six-inning victory over Belle Plaine in the Class 2A championship game, does the answer matter?

With senior pitcher Drew Hedtke in control from the outset and a lineup whose top four hitters smacked 11 hits and scored eight runs, the Panthers proved they were the tournament’s best team.

They outscored opponents 36-2 in three games.

Hedtke, a stocky senior with a headbanger’s long hair flowing from his cap, routinely threw his 86-mph fastball past Belle Plaine batters. He struck out the first three batters he faced on just 10 pitches.

“He was on,” Panthers coach Dean Schwirtz said.

Hedtke had started the two previous tournament games but never went past the third inning as the Panthers had generated big leads in both. He had plenty left for the championship game.

“I think any coach would dream to have their ace be able to come back and pitch all three games in the state tournament,” Schwirtz said.

First report

Glencoe-Silver Lake (26-3) scored five runs in the fourth inning to break open a close game while pitcher Drew Hedtke allowed just one hit and struck out 11 to lift the Panthers to a 10-0, six-inning victory over Belle Plaine in the Class 2A championship game.

Hedtke started both of the Panthers' previous state tournament games but was pulled early as the team built big early leads. On Friday at Target Field, he was in control from the outset. He struck out the first three batters he faced, threw just 83 pitches for the game and did not walk a batter.

Belle Plaine finished 20-5.

Check back later for more on the game.

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