New Life Academy's brief hiatus from the state championship game is over. The Eagles held off Eden Valley-Watkins' late rally attempt for 6-4 victory in Thursday afternoon's Class 2A semifinals at Caswell Park in North Mankato. 

The win puts New Life Academy in position to win its fifth championship in the last six years.

The two teams entered the fifth inning tied 2-2, before the Eagles scored four runs on three hits and a error to pull ahead 6-2. Valerie Hohol had a pair of hits and picked up the win in the circle. 

Eden Valley-Watkins scored two in the seventh, but Hohol struck out the last two batters to end the game.

JASON GONZALEZ

New Life Academy of Woodbury upset defending champion Cherry 6-3 in Thursday morning's Class 1A quarterfinal at Caswell Park in North Mankato.

Cherry took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, but Malorie Giere's two-run double in the bottom of the first also got New Life's offense fired up early on.

The Eagles would pull away in the late innings behind the pitching and hitting of Valerie Hohol.

JASON GONZALEZ

Eden Valley-Watkins won the battle of Eagles, defeating New York Mills 4-2 in Thursday morning's Class 1A quarterfinal at Caswell Park in North Mankato.

Eden Valley-Watkins scored two runs with two outs in the top of the fourth to take a 3-2 lead and eventually added an insurance run to secure the victory. 

New Life Academy of Woodbury and Eden Valley-Watkins will face off in the semifinals.

JASON GONZALEZ