OSCEOLA — The Hubbers started the playoffs with a clean 14-4 win over Tomahawk, putting Ellsworth one game away from playing in the State Finals bracket this weekend that will be hosted on their home field. Ellsworth then matched up with Norwalk for all the marbles. The game was an absolute battle, grinding all the way to extra innings before Norwalk walked off with a 3-2 win.

The Tomahawk game was beautifully executed, with the Hubbers amounting to 11 hits, 13 walks, reaching on eight errors and striking out just four times in seven innings. First baseman Michael Koch had three hits, including a single to end the game by 10-run rule; shortstop Drake Flom reached base four times; Derek Johnson had two hits of his own and center fielder Ben Fischer scored a whopping five runs. Stealing the show, though, were 2026 Ellsworth High School graduates Gavin Klos and Omar Coulson each homering.

“I was kind of waiting for one. Hit a couple during high school and got kind of a slow start to the season,” Klos said. “Hit two off the wall in Bay City [last week], and I’m like I’ve just got to stay confident, trust the mechanics.”

“First home run, usually I just go up there to swing and get on base, but it’s a good feeling,” Coulson said.

The Ellsworth deck was stacked with recent and current high schoolers this season, and on the field, they really found their way after transitioning to a different league.

“You saw the athleticism, you saw the speed, you saw the not giving up any at-bats, no giving up pitches,” Manager Jeremiah Paulson said. “That burst of energy pulls the veterans with them.”

“It’s just fun that we get to play together again. Not many people get to do that, and our chemistry is good,” Coulson said.

On the mound it was Urban Broadway who got the job done, pitching to weak contact for seven innings to keep a fairly clean sheet.

“Collectively, for seven innings we were good,” Paulson said. “Needed to see a couple of the young guys hit homers. Those are big runs… allowed us to settle in.”

“We played good behind a good pitcher, and you get good offense. I just told the guys it’s a great way to start a little run,” Paulson said.

The Norwalk game was an instant classic, which started quickly when Flom doubled and later scored on an error just three batters into the ball game. Norwalk rallied back in the bottom of the second, leading off with a double, loading the bases with two two-out walks and singling to take a 2-1 lead.

Veteran pitcher James Georgakas came into the game in the fifth, holding off Norwalk until Ellsworth could tie the game in the seventh. Flom and Klos each singled with one out, and a second out later, Koch’s ground ball to the shortstop led to a wild throw that scored Flom.

The two pitchers then really began to show their best. Georgakas went 1-2-3 in the seventh, then Ellsworth was retired quickly in the eighth. Georgakas went 1-2-3 again in the eighth and the Hubbers were shut down 1-2-3 in the ninth. With the game on the line, Georgakas made it a third consecutive 1-2-3 inning in the ninth to send the game to extras. Ellsworth could not capitalize, picking up a groundout, a strikeout and a line out in the 10th. Norwalk then said enough is enough, hitting a leadoff double, which would be singled home on a line drive to center to put an end to the Hubbers’ season.