State Baseball: Class A Semifinals: Sebeka advances to title game on Pulju’s game-winner

Cody Pulju’s only hit of the game turned out to be a winner.

With the score tied 4-4 in the bottom of the seventh, the junior delivered a two-out, RBI single to give Sebeka the 5-4 victory over Deer River in the semifinals of the State Class A Tournament Thursday evening at the Mini Met in Jordan.

Pulju’s single skirted under Deer River shortstop Jack Carter’s glove and into centerfield, scoring pinch runner Carlos Castro from second base. Castro was running for Josh Kinunen, who had hit a two-out double into deep center before Pulju stepped to the plate.

Kinnunen, who went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, tied the game up in the bottom of the fifth with a two-run single. He also doubled and scored the Trojans first run in the second inning on a Travis Titcomb RBI single.

Sebeka led 2-0 going into the top of the fifth, but Deer River sent nine batters to the plate and scored four runs on four hits and a Trojan error. Ty Vickerman highlighted the Warriors big inning with a two-out, two-run double.

Paul Funk earned the win on the hill for the Trojans. The sophomore came in relief with one out in the fifth, and allowed just two hits and struck out four in two and a third innings. Taylor Pederson started for the Trojans but didn’t finish, lasting four and two-third innings.

The Trojans scattered 10 hits with Reid Redetzke going 2-for-3 and Brenan Brockpahler 1-for-4 with a triple.

The victory sends Sebeka (21-5) into the Class A title game against unbeaten Eden Valley-Watkins (26-0) at Target Field on Saturday.

State Class A Semifinals
Sebeka vs. Deer River on June 17
Trojans 5, Warriors 4
Deer River 0 0 0 0 4 0 0—4 8 2
Sebeka 0 1 0 1 2 0 1—5 10 2
WP: Paul Funk (Sebeka) (2.1IP, 2H, 0R, 0ER, 1BB, 4K)
LP: Cody Willis (Deer River) (6.2IP, 10H, 5R, 5ER, 2BB, 2K)
Deer River—Ty Vickerman 1-4, 2B, R, 2RBI; Luke Benson 2-4; Damon Benham 2-3, RBI; Eythan Stangland 1-2, R; Jack Carter 2-2, R
Sebeka—Brenan Brockpahler 1-4, 3B, R; Paul Funk 1-3, R; Josh Kinnunen 3-4, (2)2B, 2R, 2RBI; Cody Pulju 1-3, RBI; Travis Titcomb 1-2, R, RBI; Reid Redetzke 2-3; Ethan Huttunen 1-3, RBI