Northstars win semi, fall to Pirates in final

By JASON JUNO

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Hurley --- Hurley pulled away from what was a back-and-forth battle for a 17-7 five-inning win over Clayton-Turtle Lake in last week’s WIAA Division 4 regional semifinal.

It put them in the regional final, where they ran into the No. 1-ranked team in the state. Grantsburg beat the Northstars 17-1 in three innings.

Even though they ran into a Pirates’ team with state-level ambitions, Hurley coach Randy King was happy they were able to win their home playoff game.

“I remember the feeling last year, seeing those seniors walk off without winning that game,” he said. “I’m happy for them, happy for the whole team, but really happy for the seniors.”

Hurley trailed 7-6 entering the fourth inning. With two runners on and one out, Clayton-Turtle Lake changed pitchers and Hurley took advantage of her inability to find the plate.

A walk loaded the bases and Andi Krall was hit by a pitch to tie the game. Three wild pitches brought home runs to make it 10-7 Hurley. Clayton-Turtle Lake tried another pitcher and eventually got back to its starter. But the damage was done. Hurley took a 15-7 lead, and the only hit in the inning was an RBI double by Alayna King.

“We took what they gave us,” coach King said. “Happy with what we did at the plate today and when she did pitch strikes, we hit it.”

Maddee Hewitt and Ryley Nyquist started the fifth inning with walks. Nyquist scored on a passed ball to put Hurley up by 10 runs to end the game via the 10-run rule.

The Northstars entered the tournament shorthanded, that included the loss of their pitcher and one of their best hitters in Olivia DiGiorgio. But they overcame a close game early to win big and get that home playoff game that eluded them last season.

“We didn’t want to end it that way, so we kept fighting,” senior center fielder Kamryn Swartz said.

Nyquist doubled in a run in Hurley’s four-run second inning and Julia Sokol knocked in another run. That tied the game after Clayton-Turtle Lake scored the first four runs. Hurley made it 6-4 in the third and the Titans responded with three runs in the fourth before Hurley blew it open with nine in the fourth after the change in pitchers.

Coach Scott Mateski said they typically use two pitchers in game, a freshman and a sophomore.

“Our pitching staff is really young and it’s hard to battle out of that sometimes,” he said. “It was fun early on. We battled, put a lot of pressure on them. We’re a really young team, we have 5-6 freshmen out there.”

The Titans ended the year at 8-14.

Ariel Haasch got the win for Hurley, striking out two in the fifth inning after getting the big lead.

“She did great,” King said. “She pitched strikes when she had to pitch strikes. She made them earn a lot for the most part.”

The Northstars lost the next day, Thursday, in Grantsburg, which improved to 22-0.

“Not winning a game against Grantsburg isn’t anything to hang your head about,” King said. “They’re not the undefeated No. 1 team in the state for nothing. Once they started timing up our pitches, it was over quick. Our kids weren’t intimidated at all after playing the schedule we did, but that team is going to be a tough out for any team in the postseason and they’re probably going to win it all.”

Haasch singled and scored the Northstars’ only run when Maddee Hewitt reached on an error. Haasch took the loss as Grantsburg scored 17 runs on 15 hits, two walks and a home run.

Hurley loses seniors Swartz, King, Sokol and Patience Sivula.

“Proud of our kids this season and we’re really going to miss the seniors, a great group of kids,” coach King said. “We’re looking forward to next year already as we have a lot of talented and coachable players returning that love the game.”

Hurley ended the year at 10-15.