Eythan Stangland was the winning pitcher in both Deer River playoff games last Thursday and kept Ely off the scoreboard for 6 2/3 innings Tuesday, yet the senior left-hander isn’t discounting the idea of being available for Thursday’s Section 7A baseball championship game.

Stangland, who allowed just one hit in nine innings to be the pitcher of record in wins over Hill City and Chisholm last week, gave up only two hits in a 2-0 victory over Ely at Fichtner Field in Hermantown, putting the Warriors one win from a second consecutive Class A state tournament appearance.

Deer River (19-3) faces Ely (21-4) again for the title at 5 p.m. Thursday at Hibbing. A second game in the double-elimination tournament, if necessary, would follow at 7:30.

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