Esko Baseball Shuts Out Perham for First-Ever State Championship Title

In their first state tournament appearance since 2000, the Esko baseball team is leaving the tourney with the top prize.

ST. PAUL, Minn.- In their first state tournament appearance since 2000, the Esko baseball team is leaving the tourney with the top prize.

“We were a little nervous at the beginning, which is to be expected, but they weathered the storm and our offense carried us today and we got three unbelievable pitching performances in the tournament. I think we gave up two runs total so, just magic. It’s a great feeling I mean, we’ve been so close to getting to the State Tournament we felt like we had teams the last probably ten years that could compete down here, just a matter of getting here. I don’t think people realize how baseball is in section 7,” says head coach Ben Haugen.

The Eskomos defeated Perham 9-0 in the AA state championship game Friday afternoon at CHS Field in St. Paul.

Dylan Marciulionis was stellar on the mound, throwing a complete game, 2-hit shutout with nine strikeouts.

“I knew I was going to go on the mound and I just trusted my stuff, trusted my defense, had some good offense, got a nice lead early and I trusted that and my defense played spectacular,” says Marciulionis.

“He was dialed in, I don’t think he slept much last night but it didn’t show, I’m sure the adrenaline was running. We got a great opening performance from Cale and then Finn on Wednesday. I said to someone the other day once we got out there and won that first one I think the next guy just wanted to do the same thing,” says head coach Ben Haugen.

Offensively, the 5th inning was the difference maker as Esko would explode with five runs to make it a 6-0 ballgame.

This was the first time that Esko has played in the championship game.

“We’ve been playing travel tournaments with each other since third grade, and we’ve been slowly building the team camaraderie and then for us to come together this year and kind of put it all together, it makes it ten times more special to spend it with a team you’re so close with,” say senior captain Cale Haugen.

“Such an amazing thing. We were waiting for this moment even before sections, and then after sections we knew we had something special and we came out here today and it was just amazing. Dylan threw an amazing game and that last out, gave us all the relief it was so awesome,” says Junior Finn Furcht.

The Eskomos finish the year at 27-1.,