Faribault Lakers Clinch State Tournament Spot

In must-win mode, the Faribault Lakers amateur baseball team rolled by the Shakopee Coyotes 16-5 and clinched their third trip to the state tournament in the past four years.

Matt Lane pitched a complete game with 13 strikeouts and no walks.

The Coyotes were able to connect for 13 hits and score five runs, but their season ended nevertheless.

The Lakers clubbed 19 hits, including home runs by Ryan Archambault and Jack Helgeson.

Faribault was laser focused as evidenced by their four-run first inning.

Joey Grote had four hits and four RBI, and Ryan Archambault also knocked in four runs. Christian VonRuden had four hits, Matt Lane three hits and Dylan Valentyn a pair of hits in the Faribault victory.

The No. 1 seed Lakers (21-5) will continue play Sunday at 2PM when they host the New Market Muskies. New Market was the No. 2 seed and also faced elimination Friday night, but pulled out a 5-2 win over St. Patrick in Prior Lake.

The team that does not win Sunday in Faribault will be the No. 4 seed from Region 3C in the state tournament being played in Green Isle, Hamburg and Norwood.

The winner will play Wednesday against the loser of the New Prague and Union Hill game being played at 2PM Sunday in St. Patrick and hosted by New Prague.

These four teams are continuing to play to determine the order of finish in the Region 3C playoffs and the seeds from Region 3C in the Class C State Amateur Baseball Tournament.

The Lakers and Muskies need four wins to get the top seed.