Riley Simonetti singled home two runs in the second inning and it was all the offense Michael Kaminski would need as he tossed a five-hitter in Benilde-St. Margarets’ 5-1 win over Robbinsdale Cooper in its first game of the Section 6AAA
playoffs.

The teams were meeting for the third time this season, with the top-seeded Red Knights winning the first two games, 12-1 and 11-5.

A leadoff walk to Kaminski in the second inning, followed by a single to left by Chris Racchini and Marshall Hoemke’s sacrifice bunt, set up the games first runs as Simonetti base hit to right field drove in the two runners.

Three more runs in the third began sealed the Hawks fate as a leadoff walk to  Hanks began the rally and Keaton Studsrud was hit by a pitch for the second time in the game.

Mikey McGill reached base on a fielder’s choice, erasing Studsrud from the base paths, and when Tyler Williams’ relay throw to first base was errant Hanks scored the game’s third run.

Kaminski then singled and Racchini’s RBI ground out produced BSM’s fourth run with Hoemke following with an RBI single.

Besides reaching base safely twice to key the Red Knights’ two offensive outbursts, Kaminski mowed down Cooper through five innings, facing the minimum number of batters through three innings and allowing just one runner to get into scoring position through five.

The Hawks used a pair of hits and a wild pitch to score their lone run of the game, in the sixth inning, but Kaminski retired the game’s final three batters, two via strikeouts to end the game. He walked two and struck out eight in going the distance for the sixth time in seven starts this season.

With the victory, BSM advances to the third round of the Section 6AAA playoff where the Red Knights will meet fourth-seeded St. Louis Park, Tuesday, in a 4:30 p.m. game at Parade Stadium. The two teams split a pair of North Suburban Conference games this season, with the Orioles winning 8-7 on their home field while BSM claimed a 4-2 victory on its home field.