Softball (6/2)

#10 Gophers Post Back-to-Back Rallies, Head to Austin Unblemished

It is probably not advisable to start a second-round section game down 3-0, and then a third-round contest down 4-0.  That is what the #10 in AA Chatfield softball did, and yet they are still off to Austin without a loss for a battle with the #1-ranked team in state.  Brent Berge’s Gophers (2-seed, 16-4) first easily handled Triton (15-seed, 3-15) in the first round.  Chatfield jumped out 10-2 after three and prevailed in five innings, 15-5.  Eighth grader Kendyl Nolte led the charge (3-4, 4 RBI, R).  Grace Finley (2-3, 3 RBI, R) and Rylee Urban (1-2, 3 RBI, R) each hit home runs, Finley’s third of the year.  Makenna Dornack (3-3, 3B, 2 RBI, 2 R), Olivia Karver (2-2, 2B, RBI, 2 R), Brittin Ruskell (2-3, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R) and Brynn Horsman (2-4, 2 R) each had multiple hits.  Kendall Knutson (1-4) also scored twice.  Katryn Johnson (3 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 9 K, Win) and Urban (2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K) got all 15 outs via strikeout.   The Gophers (2-seed, 17-4) then matched up with St. Charles (7-seed, 14-7) in the second round.  The teams were less than two weeks removed from the Saints handing Chatfield one of its four losses, 7-1.  The re-match did not start well for the Gophers.  SC’s first three hitters all singled and all three came around to score for a quick 3-0 lead.  But Chatfield then had their first five batters reach and three came around to score.  After three hits to start the game, St. Charles had just four more hits total.  Chatfield smacked 15 hits.  Three different SC pitchers each gave up at least three runs.  The Gophers had four, three-run innings, and posted a runaway 13-4 win.  Nolte (3-4, 2 R) again led the team in RBIs with three.  Five thru nine hitters Finley (2-3, RBI, 2 R), Knutson (2-4, 2 RBI, 2 R), Urban (2-4, 2B, RBI), Johnson (2-4, RBI, R), and Karver (2-4, 2B, RBI) each had two hits.  One thru three hitters Horsman (0-2, 3 BB), Ruskell (1-3, 2 R, RBI, BB), and Dornack (1-3, 2 R, 2 BB) combined for six walks.  Urban (4 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, Win) and Johnson (3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K) split the pitching.  Taylor Bacon (2-4, RBI, R) was the only Saint with multiple hits.  The Gophers (2-seed, 18-4) then immediately took on Cannon Falls (3-seed, 17-6) in the third round.   The Bombers proceeded to score three first inning runs.  They added another run the fourth and led 4-0.  At that point, Chatfield had two hits.  But in the fifth, after the first two batters got out, seven straight Gophers reached (five hits and a walk).  Nolte had a huge two-run single between first and second, scoring Horsman and Ruskell, tying the game 4-4.  Finley followed with an RBI-single, scoring Dornack, putting Chatfield suddenly ahead 5-4.  Cannon pressed for a run a half inning later.  With runners on first and second, Josie Sjoquist singled to left.  Leftfielder Nolte tossed to Dornack at home to throw out Rihanna Gomes as she tried to score from second.  The huge play ended the inning and it was the Bombers last best chance.  They went 1-2-3 in the seventh and the Gophers were victorious 5-4!  Nolte (1-3, 2 RBI), Horsman (2-4, RBI, R), Karver (1-2, 2B, RBI, R), and Finley (1-2, RBI) drove in runs.  Dornack (2-3, R), Johnson (1-3, R), and Ruskell (0-2, R) also scored.  Urban (6 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 7 K) collected the win.  Nolte continued her hot run hitting cleanup.  She has been getting pitches batting after Class AA All-State player Dornack, and making the most of it, going 10 of 18 over her last five games with 13 RBIs.  For the season, Nolte is hitting a team-best .508 with a team second-best 31 RBIs.  Dornack (.480 average) leads the team with 36 RBIs (five 2Bs, six 3Bs, five HRs).  Urban improved to 8-0 on the mound.  The #10 Gophers (2-seed, 19-4) next play #1 Randolph (1-seed, 21-1) in Austin as the section’s two no-loss teams.

Houston Lifts Off to Austin 

It was been a long time since Houston softball made Austin and the section final four.  It has been a long time since they won three playoff games.  It has been a long time since they won 20 games.  Courtesy of three mercy rule section wins, Josh Swenson’s Hurricanes have accomplished all three feats.   They are Austin bound and will play in the final four “no-loss” game.  In the first round, the Hurricanes (2-seed, 17-3) had no problem with Schaeffer Academy (15-seed, 0-15).  The ‘Canes scored 18 runs in the bottom of the first and prevailed 25-4 in four innings.  Julia Swenson (3-3, 3 R) had a double, a home run, and five RBI.  Combined with Rylee Boldt (3-3, 3B, 3 RBI, 4 R), Kylie Stinson (4-4, 2B, 3B, 3 RBI, 3 R), and Caidence Frauenkron (3-3, 3B, 2 RBI, 3 R), the foursome went 13-for-13.  Aspen Peterson (1-3, 2B, RBI, 3 R), Emily Botcher (2-2, 2 RBI, 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K Win), Olivia Yohe (1-1, RBI, 3 R), Kayla Klunder (2-2, RBI, R), and Claire Frauenkron (2 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K) also contributed.  Houston (2-seed, 18-3) then felled Hayfield (7-seed, 9-12) in the cold and rain in the second round.  The Hurricanes scored 10 runs in the first two innings, then five in the fourth to lead 15-4. They prevailed 16-6 in six innings.  Houston had nine extra base hits and walked nine times.  Peterson (2-4, 2B, 3B, 5 RBI, 2 R) and Stinson (4-5, 2B, 2 RBI, 4 R) had the biggest games offensively.  Boldt (3-4, two 2B, RBI, 2 R), Cl. Frauenkron (2-3, 2B, RBI, 3 R), Botcher (1-3, 3 RBI, 6 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 9 K, Win, 1-3, 3 RBI), Caid. Frauenkron (2-2, two 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R), and Swenson (2-5, 2B, RBI, 2 R) added to the onslaught.   The ‘Canes won the teams’ regular season matchup 6-1.  In the 1A third round, Houston (2-seed, 19-3) played sound TRC squad, perennial 1A contender Wabasha-Kellogg (3-seed, 14-8).   The Falcons notably beat TRC-East champion Dover-Eyota and 1AA finalist #10 in AA Chatfield this year.  Houston has twice lost to W-K in the playoffs the past four years.  The Falcons have twice made state and they have played at least five playoff game every year since 2020.   After each team scored three first inning runs, Houston took the lead with a run in the bottom of the second, then put up four and five (unanswered) runs in the fourth and fifth innings.  They 10-runned the Falcons by 13-3 final in five innings!  The Hurricanes had seven doubles and a home run, Boldt (2-4, 2 RBI, 3 R) having each.  Stinson (3-4, 3 RBI, 2 R) and Caid. Frauenkron (2-3, RBI, R) each had two doubles.  Peterson (2-4, 3 RBI, R) and Swenson (1-4, RBI, 2 R) each had one.  Botcher (5 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K) improved to 19-3 (161 K, 51 BB).  The win was Houston’s 11th in a row.  Eight wins in that span have been by mercy rule.  It was their 20th win overall marking the first time they have won so many since a 21-9 campaign in 2004.   It is their first three-win postseason since 2013 (their last trip to Austin and the section final four). The ‘Canes (20-3) now face top-seeded Faribault. B.A. (14-4) in the “no loss” Final Four game. 

Warriors Make Second Straight Trip to Austin 

For a second straight year, Caledonia softball will compete in the 1AA Final Four in Austin.  The Warriors won three of four playoff games on the week, only losing 1-0 to the #1 team in the state.  Caledonia (4-seed, 16-4) started by hosting GMLOK (13-seed, 11-8) in the first round.   Sophomore pitcher Avery Augedahl tossed a one-hit shutout (5 IP, 0 R, 2 BB, 12 K, Win) while hitting a triple and a home run (2-4, 2 RBI, 2 R).  Offensively, the Warriors had 13 hits and scored in all four innings they batted in a 12-0 win in five innings.  Lily Wiebke (2-2, 2B) drove in a team-best three runs.  Paizley Lange (2-2, RBI, 2 R), Lily Augedahl (2-3, RBI, 2 R), Elsa Blum (1-3, 2 RBI, R), Brairy Proulx (1-2, RBI, R), Vivian Kittleson (1-3, 2B, RBI, R), and Nora Staggemeyer (1-3, RBI, R) made it a team effort.   GMLOK finishes at 11-9.   The Warriors (4-seed, 17-4) then faced Rochester-Lourdes (12-seed, 9-12) in the second round at Rochester’s Softball Complex.   The Eagles upset Dover-Eyota (5-seed, 15-6) in the opening round 9-6.  Like the Cal and Lourdes’ regular season meeting, a 20-4 Warrior win, Caledonia controlled things.  They scored multiple runs in the first, third, fifth, and sixth innings and again rode Augedahl (7 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 13 K, Win) on the mound in a 9-1 win.  Blum was 4-for-4, scoring twice.  A-Augedahl (2-4, 2 RBI, 2 R) had another triple.  Wiebke (2-4, 2B, 2 RBI), L-Augedahl (1-4, 2 RBI, R), Proulx (1-3, RBI, 2 R), P-Lange (1-4, RBI), and Ashlyn Reinhart (1-3, R) also contributed.  The Warriors (4-seed, 18-4) then again did battle with #1 in AA Randolph (1-seed, 20-1) in the third round.  The Rockets topped Caledonia 6-2 in the regular season.  The rematch was a pitcher’s duel, decided by Randolph’s first batter.  Pitcher Carter Raymond (2-3) hit a pop fly double into right-center-field, then came around to score on two wild pitches/passed balls. It was the game’s only run.  Caledonia only had one runner reach scoring position, as P-Lange (2-3) had a two-out double in the sixth.  The Warriors four-thru-nine hitters were a combined 1-for-15 with 11 strikeouts.  Raymond (7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 11 K, Win) topped Augedahl (6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 9 K, Loss) on the mound in a 1-0 win.  Caledonia (4-seed, 18-5) then came back two days later and played an elimination game with La Crescent/Hokah (6-seed, 17-6).  The Warriors got revenge for the Lancers beating them 5-1 to decide the TRC-East title.  Already up 3-0 in the fifth inning, Chad Augedahl’s group broke open the game with a six-run inning.  L-Augedahl had a key bases loaded two-run double.  Wiebke followed with an RBI-double, Reinhart an RBI-triple two batters later.   Caledonia ended it in the bottom of the sixth for the 10-0 win.  A-Augedahl (6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 11 K, Win) continued her excellent post-season (24 IP, 10 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 45 K) on the mound while also scoring twice (1-4).  Reinhart (2-3, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI, R), L-Augedahl (1-3, 2B, 3 RBI, R), Wiebke (2-3, 2B, RBI, 2 R) and Blum (1-2, 3B, RBI, 2 R) had extra base hits.  P-Lange (2-3, R) had a couple hits.  The Warriors (4-seed, 19-5) next play Cotter/Hope Lutheran (8-seed, 14-10) in a Final Four elimination game.

Softball Playoffs (5/19 – 5/23)

(1A First Round) 11-seed Spring Grove (8-10) 4, 6-seed Mabel-Canton (14-6) 9 (M-C: T. Wenthold 7 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 15 K, Win; Ella Halverson 2-4, 2B, 3B, 2 R; Kira Snyder 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R; Hope Erickson 1-4, RBI, R.  SG: Kendal VanMinsel 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI, R; Izabel Kaufmann 2-4, 3B, R; Katie Klug 1-2, RBI; Claire Sherburne 6 IP, 4 H, 9 R, 6 ER, 11 BB, 10 K, Loss.  The Lions had twice as many hits, 8 to 4, but the Cougars had more than twice as many runs, 9 to 4.  SG walked 12, M-C walked two.  The Cougars scored in the first five innings (led 9-1), beat SG a third time this year.  The Lions finish at 8-11)  

(1A First Round) 13-seed Fillmore Central/Lanesboro (1-19) 1, 4-seed Southland (15-5) 16 [5] (FCL: J. Storhoff 2-2, HR, RBI, R.  With it a 4-1 game, Southland had a 12-run bottom of the fourth to end it.  FC/L finishes at 1-20)  

(1A First Round) 12-seed Rushford-Peterson (3-17) 5, 5-seed Lewiston-Altura (9-10) 15 [6] (R-P: S. Tesch 1-3, HR, 2 RBI, R; Lindsey Hoiness 0-3, 2 RBI; Torryn Schneider 1-3, 2B, 2 R.  The Cardinals hit four home runs. R-P finishes at 3-18)  

(1A Second Round) 3-seed Wabasha-Kellogg (13-8) 6, 6-seed Mabel-Canton (15-6) 3 (M-C: E. Halverson 2-3, 3B, 2 RBI; Kailey Ingvalson 2-4, RBI, R; T. Wenthold 6 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, Loss.  The game was played in Mabel per better field conditions.  W-K was still the home team, scoring three in the bottom of the first.  The Cougars scored three in the top of the sixth to cut W-K’s lead to 4-3, but the Falcons replied with two in their half of the frame)  

(1A Elimination) 7-seed Hayfield (9-13) 10, 6-seed Mabel-Canton (15-7) 2 (M-C: T. Wenthold 1-4, HR, RBI, R, 7 IP, 8 H, 10 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, Loss; Kira Snyder 2-3, R. Hayfield had a five-run fifth to lead 9-2.  The Cougars finish at 15-8)