The Blackhawks came through with a four-run inning, with Noel Davila, Tate Becker and Miah Garza all coming through with RBIs to take a 6-2 lead. Madelia went on to win the game 8-2, advancing to play fourth-seeded Murray County Central Friday at Joe Faber Field in St. Cloud.

“It’s extremely exciting,” Madelia head coach Jimmy Kiefer said. “It’s awesome for the community, it’s awesome for these boys. Just living in the moment, having a fun time. For them, it’s everything. It’s an older group that’s worked really hard to get to this point, so it’s incredibly rewarding for them.”

With the win, Madelia has already guaranteed its highest-ever finish in the state tournament. Madelia/Truman placed fifth in the 1991 state tournament, and the lowest Madelia can finish now is fourth.

“It starts as a team,” Garza said. “We practice as a team, play as a team. We just put the ball in play, make trouble on the basepaths, and we win.”

Staff photo by Ari Selvey Madelia's Brayden Grev (center) runs back to the dugout after making a defensive play during a Class A State Baseball Tournament game against New York Mills on Thursday at Joe Faber Field in St. Cloud.

Becker earned the win on the mound for the Blackhawks, striking out 11 and allowing one earned run on two hits in seven innings of work.

“It’s huge, but we have our sights set on bigger,” Becker said. “We’re expecting to win every game. One game at a time. This is the biggest game we’ve played so far, and so is the next one. Looking to the next game already.”

At the plate, Garza was 2 for 3 with three RBIs.

“It means a lot,” Garza said. “Starting with me, working behind the plate is hard, and [the team] understands that. Getting hits in serious situations is big.”

Also for the Blackhawks, Becker was 2 for 3 with two RBIs, while Evan Coil had two hits and a run scored. Davila added a hit and an RBI.

Staff photo by Ari Selvey Madelia's Tony Zaleski celebrates after scoring a run during a Class A State Baseball Tournament game against New York Mills Thursday at Joe Faber Field.

NYM scored the first run of the game, with Grady Roberts doubling for an RBI. Madelia responded with a run in the bottom of the inning, with Garza singling to bring home Davila. The Blackhawks added another run in the second inning as Davila put an error into play to plate Dalton Tatro.

The Eagles tied it up in the top of the fourth, with Evan Doll laying down a squeeze bunt for a 2-2 game.

Madelia quickly responded, with Davila earning a bunt single to score Tony Zaleski, Zach Jacobs coming home on a balk, Tate Becker singling to score Davila and Garza laying down another bunt to bring home Evan Coil.

“We got guys in scoring position with no outs, which was awesome,” Kiefer said. “It kind of allowed us to play Section 2A baseball, which is our game. Playing small ball, moving guys, putting pressure on the defense that has to cover multiple different things. We were able to put ourselves in a position to multiple different things to put pressure on the D.”

Madelia added two runs in the sixth, with Becker doubling to deep center to score Bryce Borkenhagen, then coming home on a single from Garza for an 8-2 lead.

Staff photo by Ari Selvey Madelia's Dalton Tatro rounds third during a Class A State Baseball Tournament game against New York Mills Thursday at Joe Faber Field.

“We know that we have to get on base,” Becker said. “When we get on base, it’s trouble. Trying Becker earned two strikeouts as Madelia retired the side in order to wrap up the game.

“Stay focused, take one game at a time,” Garza said. “We’ve got dogs on the mound every game. It’s just fun playing with them.”

Becker said that clean defense and keeping the offense going was the key to advancing to the state championship game.

“Our bats were hot today,” Becker said. “We’ve been doing some different things in practice, cleaning it up, and it showed. Eight runs in the state tournament, that’s pretty crazy. To put the bat on the ball with runners in scoring position. You’re not looking for the perfect pitch, you’re looking to put it into play and move the runners. We just have a good approach at the plate.”