The Lady Cubs played a thriller last Wednesday, May 31, and escaped with a 1-0 victory in walk-off fashion, over a formidable Mayer Lutheran team. Kimball captured the Section 4A title and earned a trip to the state tournament for the second consecutive year. Crusaders?Äô pitcher Martina Saulsbury had a perfect game going for 6 and 1/3 innings, before Mackenzie Leither singled in the bottom of the seventh. Saulsbury fanned 10 Kimball hitters, which is not something the Cubs normally do. However, Kimball was sharp on defense, and they quashed many attempts of the Crusaders?Äô efforts to score. Katie Merchant started the game for the Cubs and pitched the first six innings. Emily Utecht pitched the seventh inning and shut down the Crusaders. In the bottom of the seventh inning Mackenzie Leither squeaked out an infield hit. On the ensuing pitch, Emily Utecht hit a rocket down the third base line. The ball got to the outfield quickly and escaped the left fielder?Äôs attempt to corral it. Mackenzie, the only Cubs?Äô base runner of the day, never slowed down, and ultimately slid into home plate, ensuring the walk-off victory.
Highlights: Mackenzie Leither, 1 for 3, run scored; Emily Utecht, 1 for 3, RBI, 2B; Pitching: Katie Merchant, 6 innings, faced 23 batters, 3 SO, 2 BB, 1 hit; Emily Utecht, 1 inning, faced 3 batters, 1 SO, 0 BB, 0 hits; credited with the win. The Cubs take on a yet-to-be-determined opponent Thursday, June 8, at 1 p.m., in the state Class A quarterfinals at Caswell Park in North Mankato.
Kimball junior Katie Merchant pitches six scoreless innings for the Cubs to win the Section Championship. Staff photo by Marguerite Laabs.