St. Cloud Cathedral (first section championship game)
Still having their backs up against the wall heading into the section championship, the Cubs softball team had to win game one versus the St. Cloud Cathedral Crusaders to force a second championship game.
The Cubs did just that behind a big game by Mazie Jurek. She collected three hits in four at bats, as the Cubs defeated the Crusaders 8-5 on May 29 from River’s Edge Park. Jurek singled in the third, fourth and sixth innings.
The Cubs got on the board in the top of the first inning after Jurek grounded out, and Sami Winter singled to left field, each scoring one run.
In the third inning, the Cubs added to their early lead after Sami Winter hit a sacrifice fly, and Baylie Winter tripled down the right field line, each scoring one run.
Claire Maus earned the pitching win for the Cubs. The pitcher surrendered four hits and two runs (none earned) over five innings, striking out two and walking none. Riley Fischer appeared in relief for the Cubs.
The Cubs accumulated 13 hits in the win. Sami Winter provided power in the middle of the lineup, leading the team with three RBI. The catcher went 2-for-3 on the day. Maus and Baylie Winter each collected multiple hits for the Cubs. Ella Johnson paced the team in walks with two. Overall, the team had patience at the plate, collecting five walks as a team.
St. Cloud Cathedral (second section championship game)
In a winner-take-all section championship game, the Cubs couldn’t keep up with the Crusaders and fell 10-4 on May 29 – one win shy of a section title and state tournament berth.
The Crusaders opened the scoring in the top of the third thanks to three singles. The Crusaders first got on the board when Liz Bell singled, scoring one run. The Cubs trailed 2-0 after three innings.
With her team trailing 5-0 heading into the bottom of the fourth, the Cubs’ Claire Honer hit an inside the park home run, scoring three runs. The team now trailed 5-3 after four innings.
The Crusaders answered with a run in the fifth, two runs in the sixth on a Tayla Vought two-run home run to center, and two more in the seventh. The Cubs tacked on a run in bottom of the seventh, providing for the final margin.
Keira Alexander earned the win for the Crusaders. She surrendered three hits and four runs (three earned) over seven innings, striking out three and walking three.
Claire Maus took the loss, starting in the circle for the Cubs. The starter gave up 13 hits and eight runs (six earned) over six and two-thirds innings, striking out four and walking two.
Honer led the Cubs with three runs batted in. The left fielder went 1-for-3 on the day. Honer, Sami Winter, and Courtney Leither each collected one hit for the Cubs.
With the loss, the section runner-up Cubs say goodbye to two seniors, in Sami Winter and Elaina Fink. The team finishes with a 24-3 record.