 One year ago in the semi-final game, Mini Ha Ha and Pierce met for a trip to Target Field. The Red Hawks won that battle for two and then the state title over Bell Plain. Fast forward of this year and the rematch is set. This time the championship game at Target Field. Pierce, Mini Ha Ha who will be crowned the class two-way state champ. This season the defending champ struck first though, John Goff, drills one to the gap right center. RBI triple puts them up one nothing. The offense looked like he put Pierce away early next inning. Alex Stevenson over the center field there. Mini Ha Ha goes a four sip after three but hold on a sec, here comes the pioneers. Brandon Dignan puts it in play. Runner safe at second. Run scores from the third to get them on the board. Then they break out in the fifth. Lane Gertz base hit. RBI double just like that. Pierce only down by two but the biggest at bat comes later in the inning. The other Gertz. Luke with two outs that gets to the grass. Two score, we're all tied at four. A piece stays that way the seventh. Mini Ha Ha's offense strikes again. Noah Denny brings home a run base hit. They add a pair to go up six, four. Last chance for Pierce. Tying run on second, two outs but Ben Teeson gets Dickman looking for the winning strikeout. What an effort though by the pioneers and what a game overall. Mini Ha Ha though, your back to back state champ. Six four, Pierce finishes second, 26 and three on the season. Kids, that's how they do. They battle, battle, battle. It doesn't matter the score, who we're playing. We won three, one, nothing in the games and playoffs and it's not ideal to be known for nothing in defending state champs but I truly was confident. These kids have done it over and over and over and sometimes things don't go your way. One play can change a whole game early on too just momentum and they came up with clutch hits and we didn't have the clutch hits that we needed to come out with a W. It was a fun game, we both battled back and forth and just being here is unreal and it was a good, it was a moment I'll never forget. The old tournament team announced after the game the pioneers get three all seniors, Lane Gertz, Matthew Tautschis and Matt Comet. If you've enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News, please consider making a tax deductible contribution to Lakeland Public Television.