St. Cloud Cathedral (semifinals)
Advancing to the Section 6AA Softball Tournament semifinals, the Cubs had trouble keeping up with the top-seeded St. Cloud Cathedral Crusaders in an 11-1 loss on May 27 from River’s Edge Park in Waite Park.
A single by Sami Winter put the Cubs on the board in the top of the first.
The Crusaders flipped the game on its head in the bottom of the second, scoring five runs on three hits to take the lead, 5-1. The biggest blow in the inning was an error that led to two runs.
In the bottom of the third inning, the Crusaders added to their early lead when Liz Bell and Sadie Meyer each hit RBI singles, and an error scored two runs.
Berkley Mathiasen earned the pitching win for the Crusaders. The hurler allowed three hits and one run over five innings, striking out one and walking four.
Riley Fischer took the loss for the Cubs. The starting pitcher went four and one-third innings, giving up 11 runs (five earned) on nine hits, striking out five and walking four.
Sami Winter led the Cubs with one run batted in. The right-handed hitter went 1-for-2 on the day. Claire Honer led the Cubs with two hits in two at bats.
Pierz (elimination game)
One loss away from elimination but one win away from a section championship appearance, the Cubs saw their bottom of the order players lead the team to a 13-3 victory over fourth-seeded Pierz also on May 27 at River’s Edge Park. Claire Honer, Ella Johnson, and Courtney Leither combined for six of the team’s 12 hits in the victory. They scored five runs and drove in six.
Leither collected three hits in three at bats in the win. Leither singled in the second, fourth, and fifth innings.
The Cubs got on the board in the first inning after Baylie Winter walked, and Honer was struck by a pitch, each scoring one run.
In the third inning the Cubs added to their early lead after Riley Fischer doubled to center field, and Elaina Fink singled to the left side of the infield, each scoring two runs.
Claire Maus earned the win in the pitching circle for the Cubs. The hurler gave up three hits and three runs (two earned) over five innings, striking out nine and walking one.
The Cubs accumulated 12 hits in the game. Fischer went 2-for-4 at the plate and led the team with four runs batted in. Sami Winter and Johnson each collected multiple hits.
The Cubs had a strong eye at the plate, piling up nine walks for the game. Winter, Fink, and Maus led the team with two walks each. Honer and Leither each stole multiple bases, as the Cubs stole seven bases as a team.
With the win, the Cubs advanced to the section championship versus St. Cloud Cathedral, having to win two straight games to capture the section crown.