Cloquet to face Mound-Westonka in quarterfinals

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Returning to the state tournament for the first time since their school’s debut in 2002, Cloquet will open this week’s Minnesota state softball tournament against Mound-Westonka in a Class AA quarterfinal set for 1 p.m. Thursday at Caswell Park in North Mankato. Win or lose, the Lumberjacks will play at 7 p.m. that same night.

Late-surging Cloquet (14-9) recently swept through the Section 7AA playoff field with a perfect record, winning all five of their games.

En route to their program’s first state berth in 10 years, Cloquet no-hit Moose Lake-Willow River, dethroned previous 10-time section champion Hermantown, outslugged Proctor and defeated Hibbing twice, including a 9-0 shutout over the Bluejackets last Thursday at Braun Park for the title.

“We’ve been on a roll,” said Cloquet Coach Ron Tondryk, who was an assistant on the Lumberjacks’ 2002 state squad. “We want to keep it going.”

Mound-Westonka (16-9) has been equally impressive. The White Hawks have won four consecutive games, including back-to-back elimination game victories over Becker en route to the Section 5AA championship last Thursday.

“I’ve been told they have a good leadoff hitter, a strong shortstop and decent pitching,” Tondryk said. “But it’s been 10 years since we’ve been to the state tournament, so we’re going to take in the thrill of things and enjoy it. If we play our game, we’ll be just fine.”

Cloquet will meet the winner or loser of Hawley and St. Anthony Village Thursday night, while Friday will conclude all state championship play.

Cloquet High School held a pep rally to support the team on Monday and the Lumberjacks departed town Wednesday behind a police escort.

Tags: carlton county, sports, cloquet