Kasey Krekling was in total control on the mound for the Hayfield Heat Friday night in Winona.

Krekling pitched nine innings, struck out 17 and didn’t allow a hit as the Heat beat Tri-County 7-0 in the first game a three-game Twin Rivers playoff series.

Krekling hadn’t thrown a no-hitter since he was an eighth grader and he didn’t even realize he had one going for him until after the sixth inning, when Hayfield scored two runs to go up 2-0.

“The arm just loosened up and I started throwing pretty hard. I was throwing the fast ball, the curve ball and the change up was working well tonight,” Krekling said. ” [Heat catcher] Travis Kauffman called a great game tonight and I never shook him off once all night.”

Krekling stayed focus on the task at hand even after he realized that Tri-County hadn’t had a hit in the game.

“You try to keep it out of your mind,” he said.

Heat pitching: Kasey Krekling 9 IP, 2 BB, 0 R, 17 K, 2 HBP

Heat hitting: Tyler Krekling, 1-for-5, R, SB; Kyle Van Wettering, 2-for-5, 2 R; Tyler Nelson, 2-for-5, double, 2 R; Charlie Hinsch, 1-for-4, 2 RBIs, 2 R; Sam Hinsch, 2-for-4, double, BB, RBI; Travis Kauffman, 2-for-4, 3 RBIs; Jordan Bale, 1-for-4