Eastview, Bemidji take the field
Eastview and Bemidji got on Target Field for warmups at 5 p.m., meaning the Class AAA baseball championship game should start as scheduled at 6. We’ll provide periodic updates on sunthisweek.com throughout the game.
The Eastview lineup released to the media an hour before gametime had Patrick Strey as the starting pitcher. But when the Lightning took the field for warmups, Strey was taking grounders at third base while Evan DeCovich went to the bullpen to warm up. DeCovich would be working on two days’ rest after throwing 98 pitches in starting and relief appearances during Eastview’s first two state tournament appearances Friday.
If DeCovich pitches, that likely puts junior A.J. Stockwell in the lineup at first base.
Bemidji’s starting pitcher is sophomore left-hander Ryan Hirt, who is 10-0 after throwing a three-hit shutout against Hill-Murray in the state quarterfinals Friday.
The Eastview-Bemidji winner will be the state’s only public school baseball champion in 2012. St. Agnes beat Lac qui Parle Valley 6-0 in the Class A championship game earlier Monday, and Holy Family shut out St. Cloud Cathedral 5-0 for the Class AA title.
