The Hayfield baseball team showed how mentally tough it has become when it bounced back from a four-run deficit to beat Spring Grove (16-8 overall) 8-7 in the Section 1A title game at Seltz Field Wednesday.

The win clinches the first trip to the state tournament in program history for the Vikings (22-2 overall).

Jake Risius hit a sacrifice fly to put Hayfield up 8-7 in the top of the seventh inning. Brady Nelson had tied the game up at 4-4 with a two-run single in the fourth.

“It was a roller coaster ride,” Hayfield head coach Kasey Krekling said. “There’s definitely a growth in maturity for this team. Last year we wouldn’t have come back, but this year we knew it was a seven inning game and we could come back.”

Easton Fritcher picked up the win in relief for Hayfield as he shut down Spring Grove in order in the bottom of the seventh.

The Minnesota Class A State Baseball Tournament will take place at the Mini Met in Jordan on June 13 and June 14 and the state title game is set for 10 a.m. on June 20 at Target Field.

Hayfield pitching: Brady Nelson, 1 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 4 ER; Luke Dudycha, 3 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 0 R, 3 K; Easton Fritcher (W) 3 IP, 2 H, 2 BBs, 3 ER, 6 K, 1 HBP

Hayfield hitting: Fritcher, 2-for-5, 2 R, 2 RBIs; Mason Tapp, 2-for-3, BB, HBP, R, SB; Brady Nelson, 1-for-4, R, 2 RBIs, SB; Kolby Tapp, 2-for-3, 2 BBs, RBI, R; Jake Risius, 1-for-4, 2 RBIs; Patrick Towey, 0-for-5; Joey Tempel, 2-for-4, RBI, R; Carter Kyllo, 1-for-2, HBP, R, BB; Karver Heydt, 0-for-1, 2 BBs, R