The Good Luck Charm Behind Perham Baseball’s Trip to the State Tournament: Pokemon?
A 22-2 RECORD, TWO STRAIGHT SECTION 8AA TITLES, AND A POKEMON TOKEN; PERHAM EYES FIRST STATE TITLE IN PROGRAM HISTORY.
PERHAM, Minn. (KVRR)–In a game full of great defense, offense and lightning delays on Wednesday night, the Perham Yellowjackets won their second consecutive Section 8AA title and are heading back to the State Tournament.
Senior pitcher Blaiz Schmidt tells us what it means to head back to the MSHSL State Tournament.
“It means a lot to this team to be able to go back there and prove ourselves once again that we are willing to go make a run at State,” said Schmidt, who pitched a complete game in the Section 8AA Title game. “This team has been through it all right now. It has just been important for us to go make another run.”
A season ago in the State Tourney, Perham lost in the Championship game. This season, the team believes it is their year.
“We go down last year and get a second place in state, which is nothing to be upset about,” said head coach James Mulcahy. “These guys came back hungry considering we graduated half of our roster last year. These guys knew that they needed to work hard and do what is important in the moment and it is nice to get another shot down there and see what we can do.”
The Yellowjackets are still in search of the programs first state title. As they head to State in search of it, they may have some help from… Pokemon?
“It is a Pokemon token,” said Mulcahy. “I found it the day before our playoff game two weeks ago. My son collects Pokemon cards. I thought it was a good luck charm and it has been. There have been a lot of good and positive things that have happened. Not even just winning games, but also our personal lives that have been flowing from this Charizard, dollar store, Pokemon token.”
Aside from being one of the top baseball teams in the state this season, holding a 22-2 record, the community in Perham is truly one of a kind. Whether it be the high fives after every run scored to the kids, or signing autographs after the game like celebrities, these players take on role model attitude.
“This community is great,” said Schmidt. “We are all for each other and we are always there for and supporting each other no matter what through wins and losses. This moment for the kids and the families and community is just huge for us to go back to State.”
Perham is a 3-seed for the State Tournament. They will play LeSueur-Henderson in round 1 on Thursday, June 13.
