Hermantown Eliminates Hopkins From State Legion Tourney

The Hopkins American Legion Post 320 baseball team ended its run at the Minnesota State Legion tournament on Sunday with a 12-11 loss to Hermantown in Eden Prairie.

Post 320, which had won three consecutive one-run games leading into Sunday, lost its second game of the double-elimination tournament and was ousted four wins shy of a state title.

Hermantown advanced to face Centennial (Lino Lakes) on Sunday afternoon and was also eliminated from the tournament with an 8-7 loss.

Hopkins was the final team who lost its first round state game still alive in the tournament. Post 320 lost 10-5 in 10 innings to Fergus Falls to open up the tournament on Friday, then bounced back later in the day to defeat Burnsville 4-3.

Hopkins then defeated Albert Lea 3-2 on Saturday morning before topping New Ulm Gold 12-11 on a ninth-inning sacrifice fly.

This was Post 320’s third state tournament appearance in the past six years. Hopkins also went to state in 2006 and 2009.