Softball: Warriors Finish as 1AA Runner-Up

It is probably Caledonia’s best season ever in softball. The Warriors won the TRC-East title and then won six playoff games. Two were won in nine innings. Cal knocked off the #1 ream in the state, handing Randolph its first loss. But alas, the Warriors needed to beat the Rockets twice and a second win did not happen.

The #8 in Class AA Warriors (2-seed, 21-3) began their second week of the playoffs by trekking to Austin for an elimination game with Cotter (5-seed, 17-7). Unlike the teams’ last TRC meeting, an 11-1 Warrior win, it was a pitchers’ duel. Cotter senior pitcher Madison Hazelton redeemed a tough previous effort versus the Warriors. Through six innings, she gave up a modest six singles. Caledonia had threats in the third and fourth, but came up empty. On the flip side, Cal senior pitcher Braelyn Lange controlled Cotter’s line-up. The Ramblers had just two hits through six innings. They had just two threats, a first inning lead-off double and a runner made third in the fourth. With it 0-0 in the bottom of the seventh, Caledonia seemed poised for victory. The Warriors had runners on second and third with one out for Aubrie Klug, a good bunter. But Klug popped up a suicide squeeze to Hazelton who then tagged Paizley Lange trying to score from third for the inning-ending double play. In Cotter’s eighth, with runners on first and second, B-Lange got a strikeout to end the threat. In the Warriors eighth, in a few blinks of an eye, it was over. With runners on first and second and two out, Kennedy Hansen hit a medium-slow roller to second base. Cotter’s Ava Mask went to second for the inning-ending force. But B-Lange, who was nearly picked off two pitches earlier, had a great jump and easily beat the throw. Elsa Blum, who started on second, made third and pressed for home. The throw and runner got to the plate simultaneously, but Cotter catcher Emilia Krage could not secure the ball. Blum scored the game-winning run. The Warriors had the 1-0 walk-off win! B-Lange (8 IP, 0 R, 3 BB, 8 K) collected the win via three-hit shut-out. Hazelton (7 2/3 IP, 8 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K) took the loss. Warrior eight-nine hitters Annah Anderson (2-3) and Klug (2-3) each had two hits. Blum (1-4) scored the only run.

The Warriors (2-seed, 22-3) then got a chance at redemption versus St. Charles (7-seed, 14-10), which lost to Randolph. The Saints beat Caledonia 8-2 in quarterfinal game. They pressed the Warriors with their base-running and took advantage of 11 walks. The Saints again pressured with their small-ball in a re-match, scoring the game’s first run in the third, but stranding five, all in scoring position, in the first three frames. Fifteen Saints batted in that span, a similar situation to the earlier playoff meeting. But a fourth inning B-Lange RBI sac fly tied the game 1-1. And the Warriors found enough batting patience versus Saint control and location pitcher Lauren Waller. In the fifth, four of the first five to bat reached. Anderson drove in one run with a single. An Avery Augedahl single drove in two more, making it 4-1. In the sixth, five straight Warriors reached. Anderson authored a two-out, three-run double to left. It made the score 7-1 and gave Warrior starting pitcher Augedahl the breathing room she then needed in the seventh. SC scored a run and had the bases loaded, but pressure did not mount up 7-2 (versus say 4-2). The Warriors punched through to the 1AA title game, 7-2. Anderson (2-3, 2B, 4 RBI, R) and Augedahl (1-3, 2 RBI, 7 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, Win) did big work. B-Lange (2-2) also drove in a run. Paizley Lange (1-2) scored twice. Hansen (1-3), Klug (1-3), and Vivian Kittleson (0-3) also scored. Waller (6 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, Loss) was not as effective as in the previous meeting (7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, Win). Mya Omdahl (2-4) had two hits. Bailee Glover (1-4) had their lone RBI. The Saints left eight on base, Caledonia two.

Two days later, Caledonia (2-seed, 23-3) was back to Austin for a 1AA title game versus #1 in AA, unbeaten Randolph (1-seed, 23-0) and 700-career strikeout pitcher Carter Raymond. The Rockets entered with 18 wins by shutout. They had not given up a run their previous six including three playoff contests. The Warriors bucked that trend when Augedahl hit a lead-off solo home run! But a hit, two walks, and Cal pitcher/catcher issues plated a Rocket run in the first, making it 1-1. Randolph then added a run in the third to make it 2-1. The Rockets left runners in scoring position in the first, third, fourth (bases loaded), fifth, and sixth innings. The Warriors flirted with worse but stayed within a run. In the top of the seventh, down 2-1, Caledonia was down to their last out. Pinch hitter Brairy Proulx then caught lightening in a bottle. She crazily took Raymond yard to right-centerfield, dramatically tying the game at 2-2! The Rockets wasted a lead-off double, stranding a runner at third in their seventh. For a second time in three games, the Warriors went to extra innings. In their ninth, Blum lined a single to center. B-Lange reached on perfect bunt. With two outs, each moved up on a passed-ball. Vivian Kittleson, who Proulx pinch-hit for in the seventh, fought off a couple two strike pitches and knocked a single to right field. Blum and B-Lange scored! Anderson followed with an RBI-double. The Warriors went ahead 5-2! Randolph went 1-2-3 in its ninth. Caledonia forced a second section title game (per the double elimination rules). They handed the Rockets their first loss. Augedahl (1-4, HR, RBI, R), Proulx (1-1, HR, RBI, 2 R), Kittleson (1-3, 2 RBI), and Anderson (1-4, 2B, RBI) drove in runs. Blum (2-4, R) and Klug (2-4) had two hits. B-Lange (9 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 7 K, Win) pitched her second extra-inning win of the week. Raymond (9 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB) struck out 15 but took her first loss. Kylee Carey (2-3, R) and Carly Kimmes (1-4, R) scored for the Rockets Randolph left 12 on base, Caledonia four. But alas, the Warriors dramatic win, save for knocking off the #1 team in extra innings, was just that. In the second game, a trio of Caledonia errors allowed a pair of runs to plate in the first. Raymond got back to shut-out ball. The Warriors had just three hits, never sending more than four to bat in an inning. The Rockets made it academic by scoring four in the sixth. Cal’s fantastic season came to an end via 6-0 loss. Raymond (7 IP, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K) pitched a three-hit shutout. Carey (2-4, R) and Ella Banks (2-3, two 2B, R) had two hits. Augedahl (6 IP, 10 H, 6 R, 0 BB, 6 K) collected her first loss, giving up just two earned runs. Caledonia had four errors, Randolph one. The Warriors’ season ends at 24-4. They more than doubled their win total from last year (11-12) and won six playoff games versus one. The 24 wins is a program record. The 1AA runner-up finish is their best in the modern era (the only section runner-up since 1995). They have just four seniors, starters B-Lange, Anderson and Hansen, plus Alexis West. The other 10 girls on the roster, including six starters, are either freshman or sophomores.