By Nick Gerhardt
In a rematch of last year’s Class B semifinals, the Macs Industrial Warriors, formerly Lyon’s Pub, exacted some revenge to once again reach the semifinals of the Class A state tournament with a 7-3 win over Air Freight Unlimited.
Air Freight opted to save lefty ace Graham Laubscher, who owns the state record for most strikeouts in a state tournament, and instead started Willy Coborn. While Coborn pitched effectively, the Warriors got to reliever Nate Ebeling in the sixth for four runs to take a 5-2 lead.
Air Freight got a run back in the top of the seventh to cut it to a 5-3 deficit, but Adam Marshall kept hitting doubles for the Warriors.
Marshall, who played at Augsburg, finished 3-for-4 with three doubles and four RBIs. His third double of the game in the seventh helped put the game away as it drove in two runs to build a 7-3 lead.
Air Freight grabbed a 2-0 lead in the top of the third after Tom Kolar scored on an error and Kyle Halverson drove in Matt Enck. Halverson had the walk-off two-run home run in last year’s 2-1 semifinal win over the Warriors.
In the fourth inning, Mike Weiss reached on an error and scored on a Dan Casazza single to make it 2-1.
John Spanier, a former University of St. Thomas pitcher, overcame the early deficit and kept Air Freight at bay. He went nine innings and allowed two runs on 11 hits. He walked two and struck out eight.
The Warriors move on to face the Miesville Mudhens, who defeated Forest Lake 4-2, Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in Gaylord.
