In the early 2010s, Mabel-Canton softball had some very lean years. Head Coach Kati Bergey captained the ship through all of it. Said ship is now sailing through fruitful waters. In the midst of their third straight winning season, for a second time in three years, M-C has captured the 1A East softball title. The Cougars (2-seed, 11-6) went through Southland, Goodhue, and then upstart FC/L to earn a trip to the Section 1A Final Four. The Rebels (8-seed, 0-17) were dispatched in the quarters 14-4 in six. M-C had a 6-run first and drew 10 total walks. Jordyn Newgard (2-4, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R), Molly Lee (2-3, 2B, 2 RBI, 3 R) and Hannah Snell (2-4, 3B, RBI, R) had a pair of hits. Emily Carolan got the win (6 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K). Goodhue (3-seed, 9-7) then came to town. M-C had three-run first. The Wildcats got as close as 3-2 (2 ½ innings) and 5-4 (4 ½ innings), but the Cougars prevailed 7-4. Kenidi McCabe (2-3, 2 RBI, R) and Carolan (2-4, RBI) had multiple hits. M-C had just six as a team, but 12 other runners reached (7 walks). Carolan (7 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 3 K) got the win. The Cougars (13-6) then trekked to Wabasha for the 1A East title game with FC/L (4-seed, 7-14), which upset 1-seed W-K. A fast M-C start put the game on ice early. Two-run hits by Lexi Thorson and Carolan in the first sparked a 5-run inning. By the end of the third, M-C led 9-0. They won the 1A East title, final score 9-2. Thorson (2-4, two 2B, 3 RBI, R) and McCabe (3-3, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R) had multiple hits. Payton Danielson (1-3, 2B, RBI, R), and Carolan (1-3, 2 RBI) also drove in runs. Carolan allowed just three hits (7 IP, 2 R, 0 ER, 5 BB, 1 K, Win). Kelsey Biel and Addie Peters had RBIs for FC/L. Lauren Mensink and Krista Jorgenson scored runs. In the three games, the Cougars out-scored their three opponents 14-0 in the first inning. The Cougars (14-6) head to Austin to play West 1-seed #2 in Class A W-E-M (20-0).
Gophers Make Sixth Straight Trip to Austin
It is maybe the toughest section in the state. The Final Four will be a dogfight. Chatfield softball will be a part of it. The #9 in AA Gophers are again set to play in Austin. Their sub-section run included wins over C/SG, L-A, a loss to #2 Cotter, but then a win over St. Charles. The Warriors (7-seed, 7-11) were an easy fell, 16-0 in five. Junior pitcher Lexi Chase notched a grand slam perfect-game combo (3-4, 2B, GS-HR #2, 5 RBI, R, 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 10 K, Win). Frosh Peyton Berg had a huge day (3-4, two 2B, HR #3, 6 RBI, R). Belle Berg (3-4, RBI, 2 R), Alanna Goetzinger (2-3, 2B, RBI, 2 R), and McKenna Daniels (2-2, 2 R) added multiple hits. A semifinal with L-A (3-seed, 15-4) was then a grind. The team’s regular season meeting was a nine-inning 1-0 Gopher win. The play-off game took 12 innings. Four times (6th, 8th, 10th, 12th innings), with runners in scoring position, the Cardinals intentionally walked B-Berg to get to clean-up hitter Goetzinger. Finally, with the bases juiced in the twelfth, the senior blasted a single to right field, scoring Abby Nosbisch (1-3, 2B, R), for the walk-off win. The battle of Chase (12 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 BB, 21 K, Win) versus Olivia Funk (11 1/3 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 8 BB, 5 intentional, 11 K, Loss) was won by the former, who set a career-high in strikeouts (topping 20 Ks set in the regular season meeting). Only one Cardinal reached scoring position. It set up a third straight 1AA East final with #2 in AA Cotter (1-seed, 20-2). After 4 ½ scoreless innings, the Ramblers used Gopher errors, then a 3-run home run by Alison French (3-3, 3 RBI, R), to post a 5-run fifth. Cotter grabbed its second straight 1AA East title, 5-0. Chase (2-3, two 2B) had both Gopher hits (4 1/3 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, Loss). Isabel Northrup (7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 14 K, Win) commanded the Gopher line-up. Chatfield turned right around and played St. Charles (4-seed, 16-7), who the Gophers swept (9-2, 6-2) in the regular season, for the 1AA East runner-up spot. The Saints plated one in the first. A 2-run Mia Pierre home run made it 3-0 in the third. Peyton Berg’s tree-killing no-doubt 2-run home run, and McKenna Daniels’ pretty-far 2-run home run, gave the Gophers life, a 4-run fourth inning (ending a 19-inning, one-run scoring span). SC took a 5-4 lead a ½ inning later, but the Gophers posted a 5-run fifth. Chase’s beleaguered arm then preserved the lead. A 9-5 win made the Gophers 1AA East Runner-Ups. P-Berg (2-3, HR #4, 4 RBI, R), Daniels (2-3, HR #3, 3 RBI, R), Chase (2-3, RBI, R), and Goetzinger (2-2, 2B, 2 R) had multiple hits. Chase grabbed the win (7 IP, 10 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 5 K). She pitched 23 1/3 innings over two days. The Gophers (18-5) will face 1AA West Runner-Up Z-M (19-4).
Hot Shots
FC/L softball won two play-off games to make the 1A East title game. Krista Jorgenson pitched both wins. Versus 1-seed W-K in the semis, the Falcons got two seventh inning runs for a 5-4 win. After falling to M-C, FC/L and W-K played again. Hannah Storlie hit a go-ahead sole homer in the sixth (2-1). W-K scored two in the seventh for the walk-off win. Halen Schwendinger hit a homer as R-P baseball beat Houston in play-off action. Hurricane Jaytin Millen and Chatfield’s Seth Allen hit home runs in play-off defeat. The Gophers lost on a walk-off single. LFCMC’s Emma Breitsprecher (100-H, 300-H, P-Vault, 4×400) had four first place finishes at the Sub 1 track meet. RPH’s Triton Meldahl (110-H, 300-H, T-Jump, L-Jump) qualified for the Section 1A meet four times, Brady Gile (T-Jump, L-Jump, 200) thrice. GMLOKS’ Hailey Hindt (100-H, 300-H, H-Jump, 4×200) and Lauren Buchholtz (100, L-Jump, 4×100, 4×200) qualified four times. LARP boys golf took second to La Crescent at the TRC Meet. Zach Anderson took second for LARP. The teams shared the TRC East division golf title.
Baseball
(5/20 – 5/25)
K-W 13, Houston 1 [5] (H: Houston had just two hits, Knights a 7-run fifth)
(1AA-East Qtr) Chatfield (#5, 9-9) 5, L-A (#4, 11-8) 6 (C: S. Allen 1-3, HR, 2 RBI, R; Sam Stevens 1-3, RBI. Gophers led 5-3 in bottom of seventh, lost on Sam Bronk’s walk-off RBI-single which plated two. Gophers finish 9-10)
(1A-East Qtr) Houston (#6, 2-17) 8, R-P (#3, 7-11-1) 13 (RP: H. Schwendinger 2-4, HR, RBI, 2 R; Alex Ronnenberg 3-4, 2B, 3 RBI, 3 R; Tommy Ekern 2-4, 3 RBI, R; Nolan Mueller 2-3, 2B, RBI, 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 K, 1 BB, Win; Carter Weidemann 2-4, 2B, RBI; Seth Heiden 2-4, 2B, RBI, 2 R. H: Jaytin Millen 2-4, HR (2), 2 RBI, 2 R; Caiden Olson 3-4, two 2B, 2 R; Alex Alfson 2-4, 2 RBI; Landon Carrier 1-3, 2 RBI. Canes finish 2-18)
(1A-East Qtr) M-C (#7, 1-15) 3, SG (#2, 12-6) 14 [5] (MC: Drew Wyffels 2-3, R. Cougars finish 1-16)
(1AA-West Qtr) Z-M (#6, 7-12) 5, GMLOK (#3, 17-2) 2 (GM: Drew Copley 7 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 10 K, Loss, 2-3, RBI. Cougars scored four unearned runs in pivotal third inning. Bulldogs finish 17-3)
(1A-East Semi) R-P (#3, 8-11-1) 0, SG (#2, 13-6) 6 (RP: C. Weidemann 2-3; N. Mueller 1-3, 2B, 6 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 11 K, Loss. SG: Carter Bratland 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 14 K, Win, 3-3, R. Trojans are 8-12-1)
Softball
(5/20 – 5/23)
(1A-East Qtr) R-P (#5, 5-14) 0, FC/L (#4, 5-14) 12 [5] (FCL: K. Jorgenson 2-3, 4 RBI, 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, Win; Lauren Mensink 2-3, 2B, 2 RBI, R; Sierra Rustad 1-2, 2 RBI, 2 R; H. Storlie 1-2, 2B, 2 RBI, R. R-P finishes 5-15)
(1AA West Qtr) GMLOK (#6, 11-7) 1, Byron (#3, 11-7) 9 (GM: Masie Voigt 1-3, 2B, R; Lily Hughes 1-3, 2B, RBI. Bears had a 5-run fourth. GMLOK finishes 11-8. They went 4-13 last season)
(1A East Qtr) Houston (#6, 6-13) 3, Goodhue (#3, 8-7) 4 (H: Richelle Botcher 1-2, RBI, 7 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, Loss; Olivia Beckman 1-3, R. Wildcats had two HRs, ‘Canes two hits. ‘Canes got tying run to third in 7th. Houston finishes 6-14)
(1A East Semi) FC/L (#4, 6-14) 5, W-K (#1, 11-9) 4 (FCL: K. Jorgenson 7 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, Win; H. Storlie 1-3, RBI; Sophie Pieper 1-2, 2B, R; L. Mensink 1-3, 2B, RBI, R. Down 4-3, a walk and a Mensink double, set stage for two ground-ball outs to score game-tying and go-ahead runs for Falcons in seventh)
(1A East Elim) FC/L (#4, 7-15) 2, W-K (#1, 12-10) 3 (FCL: H. Storlie 1-3, HR, RBI, R; K.J. Corson 2-3; Daysha Erickson 1-3, 2B, RBI; K. Jorgenson 6 2/3 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 3 K, Loss. Storlie hit a solo HR to make it 2-1 FCL (6th inning). Julia Schmoker hit a solo HR to tie it 2-2 (7th inning). With two outs, WK scored on error, walk, error, for win. Falcons finish at 7-16)
Track and Field (5/23)
Sub-1 Meet (* = section top five seed. S = Qualified by standard. LFCMC 1A Meet qualifiers: E. Breitspecher (1st 100-H*, 300-H* & P-Vault), Carson Kiehne (1st 400*), Brielle Ruen (1st 400*, 2nd 100*), J.T Rein (1st 300-H*, 3rd 100-H), Kelly Ristau (1st H-Jump), Greysen Higbe-Hurrah (1st P-Vault*), Drew Wyffels (2nd 100*, 3rd T-Jump), Kassidy Broadwater (2nd P-Vault), Jayce Kiehne (2nd 1,600*), Kaylee Arndt (3rd 1,600*, 4th 3,200* – S), Morgan Pickett (3rd 400), Sydney Taylor (3rd Shot), Jared Peterson (3rd 400), Tyler Raaen (3rd 800), Trenten Chiglo (3rd P-Vault), Tate Pieper (3rd P-Vault), Reid Crawford (4th 1,600 – S), Hadrian Williams (4th Shot – S), 4×400* (1st, Macayla Brogle, Ruen, Kammry Broadwater, Breitsprecher), 4×800 (1st, Halle Norby, Madison Simon, Katelyn Kleiboer, Katie Prinsen) & 4×200 (2nd, Alida Berg, Lauren Brogle, M. Brogle, Kam. Broadwater), the boys 4×200* (2nd, Wyffels, Josh Peters, Ben Snyder, C. Kiehne), 4×400* (2nd, Wyffels, Peters, Snyder, C. Kiehne), & 4×800* (2nd, Jake Gathje, Carson Schwichtenberg, Raaen, Snyder). RPH qualifiers: T. Meldahl (1st 110-H* & L-Jump*, 2nd 300-H* & T-Jump), B. Gile (1st T-Jump*, 2nd L-Jump, 3rd 200), Luke O’Hare (1st 1,600* & 3,200*), Kaleah Davis (1st Shot, 2nd Disc), Ben Wieser (1st Shot, 2nd Disc), Alex Van Gundy (1st H-Jump, 3rd L-Jump), Emma Geiwitz (2nd L-Jump & T-Jump), Jenny Albrecht (2nd Shot), Ricky Buchanon (2nd 800), Allison Papenfuss (2nd 200), Kaitlyn Bieberdorf (3rd L-Jump & T-Jump), Tyler Rislov (3rd 1,600* & 3,200), John Luhmann (3rd H-Jump & P-Vault), Brielle Rasmussen (3rd 200), Brett Betthausen (3rd Disc), Kjersta Hinz (5th H-Jump – S), the girls 4×100 (2nd, Hinz, Bieberdorf, Alyvia Eide, Papenfuss) & 4×200* (1st, Hinz, Rasmussen, Albrecht, Papenfuss), the boys 4×200 (3rd, Nick Schmitz, Van Gundy, Wyatt Walters, Tieson Pestana). Chatfield qualifiers: Jonathan Frank (1st Disc*, 2nd Shot), Jack Tuohy (2nd 200), Becca Fox (3rd 300-H), Lauren Cole (2nd H-Jump), Silja Erickson (3rd Disc), Autumn Frederick (5th H-Jump – S), the girls 4×400 (2nd, Cole, Fox, Stephanie Bradt, Karla Gomez), 4×800 (2nd, Abbi Gillespie, Tessa McMahon, Gomez, Sydney Allen) & 4×200 (3rd, Zayda Priebe, Alyssa Baum, Ann Warren, Cole), the boys 4×200* (1st, Carson Larrabee, Jared Baker, J. Tuohy, Chance Backer), 4×100 (3rd, Gage Tuohy, J. Tuohy, Larrabee, Backer) & 4×800 (3rd, Cooper Frederick, Brady Woltz, Treyton Lanning, Colby Aarhus))
Sub-2 Meet (* = top five seed at sections. S = Qualified by standard. GMLOKS 1A Meet qualifiers: H. Hindt (1st 100-H* & 1st 300-H*, 4th H-Jump – S), L. Buchholtz (1st L-Jump*, 2nd 100*), James Howard (1st 200), Zach Hauser (1st H-Jump), Christian Hjelman (2nd 800), Anika Reiland (2nd 200*), Shelby Beck (2nd P-Vault), Kassidy Kirtz (2nd L-Jump), Jordyn Glynn (2nd T-Jump), Riley Queensland (3rd 200 & H-Jump*), Kendyl Queensland (3rd 800), Brendan Kennedy (3rd 1,600), the girls 4×100* (1st, Buchholtz, Reiland, Olson, Kirtz), 4×200* (2nd, Buchholtz, R. Queensland, Reiland, Hindt), 4×400 (2nd, Beck, Glynn, Maddy Bhend, K. Queensland), & 4×800 (2nd, Bhend, Sydney Alstat, K. Queensland, Beck), the boys 4×400 (1st, Ludemann, Hjelman, Howard, Howard), 4×100 (2nd, John Hegge, Blake Ludemann, Luke Speer, Lucas Howard), 4×200 (2nd, Hegge, Ludemann, Speer, J. Howard), & 4×800 (2nd, L. Howard, Jacob Kerrins, Kennedy, Hjelman))
Golf (5/21 – 5/24)
(B) Southland 218, D-E 210, Kingsland 182 (K: Wyatt Pruter 42*; Nick Wernimont 45; Gregg Hubka 47. S: Max Schmidt 42*); (G) S Inc, D-E Inc., K Inc. (K: Madeline Moore 45*. Old Barn Resort GC)
(B/G) Cannon Falls Invite (Stewartville (327) beat Shattuck-St. Mary’s (335) for boy’s title. LARP (348) tied for fifth (of 11). Lourdes had top two in Luke Alexander (73) and Kyle Hickey (76). LARP’s Zach Anderson (81) tied for sixth, Jacob Anderson (83) tied for 10th. Red Wing (328) beat Lake City (336) for girl’s title. LARP took of fifth (of 6 complete, 8 total). Wingers Leah Herzog and Sophia Yeomans had 67s to pace the field. Anna Hennessy (100) had top score for LARP. Cannon Falls CC)
(B/G) SEC Meet (Lanesboro (389) beat LOGM (394) for team title. Kingsland (413) took third (of 4). Houston was incomplete. Burro Hayden Lawstuen took second (88) to LOGM’s Grant Vikre (85). Knight W. Pruter (95) and Burro Cale Anderson (96) took fourth and fifth. Led by SEC champ Payton Benson (98), Burro girls won meet. Cedar River CC)
(B) GMLO 186, Lanesboro 200 (GMLO: G. Vikre 39*; Taylor Glynn 45. L: H. Lawstuen 46; Clay Schwichtenberg 49. Front nine scores from SEC Meet used for make-up conference meet)
(B/G) TRC Meet (La Crescent’s boys (338) took first over LARP (341). FC (398) took fourth, Chatfield (416) fifth (of 10). LC’s Owen Davison (76) was boys champ ahead of LARP’s Z. Anderson (80). FC’s Jake Fishbaugher and LARP’s J. Anderson tied for fourth (84s). LARP’s Andrew Hoiness (88) and Carter Lang (89) took 8th and 9th (tie). Sam Rudlong (91) paced Chatfield. Caledonia’s girls (363) beat FC (370) for girl’s title, ending the Falcons five-year reign. LARP (395) took third (of 9). Chatfield was incomplete. FC’s Madison Scheevel (78) took first over La Crescent’s Anna Tollefson (80). Falcons Hailey Lange (91) and Taylor Bushman (93) took fifth and sixth. LARP’s Lexi Reps (95) and A. Hennessy (98) took 7th and 10th. Willow Creek GC)
(B) Kingsland 197, Lanesboro 202 (L: H. Lawstuen 43; C. Schwichtenberg 50. K: N. Wernimont 46*; W. Pruter 47. Knights (7-1, 11-3) win SEC over Burros); (G) K Inc., L 225 (L: P. Benson 48*. Burros are SEC champs. Lanesboro GC)