Heron Lake got a single and Worthington pitcher Munkel hit the Lakers Ethan Duffy to put two runners on the bases. Worthington would get the ground out at first on the next batter, but the base runners would both advance, putting two in scoring position.

In the Lakers’ next at bat, Ike Rogers would smack an RBI single into the outfield to put Heron Lake up 2-0.

“Our starting pitcher Matt Franks gave us a solid start,” Heron Lake coach Chad Knutson said. “Our defense was really solid and gave us some good plays. Ike Rogers gave us a key hit in a key situation. We did enough to get a win.”

Neither team would do much damage in the next two innings, until Heron Lake’s Ben Scheevel doubled to the outfield and advanced to third on the throw to first on a ground ball. Munkel struck out the next batter only to throw a wild pitch in the dirt to allow Scheevel to score from third to put Heron Lake up 3-0.

Worthington would get some runs in the bottom of the sixth off an RBI double by Wasmund. The Cubs would follow that up with a RBI single from Mitch Jensen, scoring Wasmund from second.

Heron Lake would strike back in the top of the seventh with Jensen coming in to relieve Munkel.

“We were trying to find a way to put the ball in play,” Knutson said. “You put the ball in play, things happen.”

But the Lakers got more timely hitting with a single from Eric Milbrath, who advanced to second on an error by the Cubs. Worthington almost got out of the inning without surrendering another run, but Kirk McBreen scored Milbrath from second on a single to the outfield to put the Lakers up 4-2 going into the bottom of the seventh.

Worthington got a batter on base, after a walk in the bottom of the inning, but Franks shut the door, striking out the next batter and then getting Jared Kinley to ground into a doubleplay to end the game.

“It felt pretty good,” Franks said. “I was just putting down what Ike calls. It is what I do, listen to my catcher. I was keeping them off speed.”

HL 000 201 1 — 4 6 0

WGTN 000 002 0 — 2 4 2