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Aitkin baseball heads to state as GR, Red Lake County, South Ridge return

KAXE
Published June 8, 2026 at 1:51 PM CDT
The Aitkin Gobblers baseball team poses with their first place trophy for Section 7-2A after defeating Duluth-Marshall to advance to the 2026 Minnesota State High School League state tournament.
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Aitkin Youth Baseball Facebook page
The Aitkin Gobblers baseball team poses with their first place trophy for Section 7-2A after defeating Duluth-Marshall to advance to the 2026 Minnesota State High School League state tournament.

The Gobblers won a close 1-0 game against the top-seeded Duluth-Marshall to advance, while Red Lake County looks to defend the title and Grand Rapids makes its 6th-straight appearance.

Four rural Northland baseball teams are set to compete in the state tournament, which kicks off Thursday, June 11.

Grand Rapids is making its sixth-straight and state-record 24th appearance. This year, the Thunderhawks earned the No. 7 seed and will face No. 2 Mahtomedi at 10 a.m. Thursday in the 3A quarterfinals.

Red Lake County returns to the tourney this year after winning the Class A tournament last year, the Rebels' first championship win. They're the No. 2 seed and will face Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in the 1A quarterfinals.

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South Ridge is making its seventh appearance in nine years, also in the 1A tourney, seeded just behind Red Lake County at No. 3. The Panthers play Brandon-Evansville at 1 p.m. Thursday.

The Aitkin Gobblers were the No. 2 seed in Section 7-2A and won a close 1-0 game against the top-seeded Duluth-Marshall to advance to state. Aitkin enters the state tourney as the No. 6 seed in the class and will play Glencoe-Silver Lake at 12:30 p.m. Thursday at Dick Putz Field.

The single A quarterfinals Thursday and semifinals and third-place game Friday will be played at Joe Faber Field in St. Cloud. Those 2A games will be at Dick Putz Field in St. Cloud, and those 3A games will be at Chaska Athletic Park in Chaska.

Single A consolation games will be played Friday in Sauk Rapids, 2A consolation games in St. Cloud, and 3A in Chaska.

Championships are set for Monday at Target Field in Minneapolis.

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Local News High School Sports and ActivitiesAitkinGrand Rapids School DistrictRed Lake County School DistrictNorth Central MinnesotaArrowheadNorthwest MinnesotaKAXE
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