While Hill-Murray played its way back to the section final, Mahtomedi had a chance to rest and entered Thursday’s game needing to win just one game to win the tournament. 

The rest allowed the Zephyrs to bring out one one of their best pitchers, Max Strecker, in game No. 1. He kept Hill-Murray at bay, especially in the first four innings when he allowed just one baserunner.

“They were behind on my fastball and early on my changeup,” Strecker said. “It worked out really well for me.”

Hill-Murray also succeeded in the early innings at slowing down a red-hot Mahtomedi offense. Pioneers starter David Rozek worked around two Zephyrs hits to keep things scoreless into the third inning.

“Our pitchers all season have done a really nice job of giving us a chance,” Hill-Murray coach Charlie Cicalello said. “We just had to rely on them and our defense.”

In the bottom of the third inning, the vaunted Mahtomedi offense broke through with its bottom of the order making things happen. William Harris started the inning with a single. Charles Barre bunted him over and Nicholas Rollinger reached on an error that brought home Harris.

“Our 7-8-9 (hitters) could be 5-6-7 (hitters) in a lot of other lineups,” Garry said. “They put the ball in play and made the other team field it.”

The top of the order then got its chance and delivered. With two on and two out, Mahtomedi center fielder Ethan Felling crushed a home run over the high left field fence at Northwestern University, putting the Zephyrs ahead 4-0.

“He kind of missed one the first time he was up,” Garry said. “He knew it. It was pressure free that time. It’s two outs, two on. He’s a free swinger. He doesn’t miss many in the zone like that.”

That four-run inning constituted all of Mahtomedi’s offense. But it was all the Zephyrs needed. Strecker did not allow a Hill-Murray baserunner to get beyond second base.

“You can’t say enough about Max Strecker,” Garry said. “He established a fastball early and mixed in his changeup as the game went on. That was a very tough adjustment for them to make. Plus, our defense made all the plays that needed to be made.”

Though the postgame celebration was relatively calm, the excitement to play in next week’s state tournament is certainly there for the Zephyrs. They won the Class 3A crown in 2021 and took the consolation trophy home last year.

“I’m just looking for a long run with the fellas,” Strecker said. “It’s going to be a good one.”