Photo Gallery: Apple Valley vs. Eastview
Then the Lightning (15-9) struck for two more runs in the fifth, giving them a 3-0 lead. The three-run deficit proved too much for the Eagles (12-13) to overcome as the Lightning won the Class 4A, Section 3 title 3-2 on Wednesday night.
Eastview senior pitcher Ryan Fering threw 6 1/3 innings to keep the Eagles flightless until the top of the seventh inning. Fering finished with seven strikeouts and gave up five hits and two runs, both earned.
Nic Nelson came on in relief of Fering to finish off the Eagles. The senior had one strikeout and surrendered a walk.
Third baseman Logan Tollefson, a senior committed to Hamline, went 2-for-3 at the plate and garnered two RBI to spark the Lightning offense. He was the only hitter from either team to register multiple hits in the game. Seniors Lucky Bolden and Josh Lafave both had a hit and a RBI for the Eagles.
The victory gives Eastview, which finished undefeated in section play, its first trip to the state tournament since 2012, when the Lightning beat Bemidji 1-0 in the Class 3A title game at Target Field. The Lightning moved up to Class 4A after the 2015 season.