The Marty Mudcats competed in Fall Softball Tier 2 State Tournament in Lakeville. The tournament was with 12 teams with 2 games guaranteed.
The Mudcats started off facing the Rochester Rockets. The game began with a bang for both teams as they both were able to score their lead-off hitter in the first inning. Shay Krippner started the game off with a single, Madi Libbesmeier put down a sacrifice bunt to advance her, Emily Utecht singled to advance her to third, and Lauren Libbesmeier hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Krippner. The Mudcats score again in the 3rd inning with a similar fashion with Tashi Kunkel leading off with a single to right field, Krippner bunting her to second base, and Madi Libbesmeier hitting a
single to right center to score Kunkel. Mudcats score 3 runs in the 6th inning from hits by Madi Libbesmeier, Lauren Libbesmeier, and Kenzie Leither. Marty?Äôs defense and pitching by Emily Utecht held the Rockets to 2 runs securing the win for the Mudcats at 5-2.
The Mudcats advance to the semi-finals to play Brainerd. Marty starts this game out similar to the first game: Krippner reaches base on a walk, Madi Libbesmeier put down a sacrifice bunt to advance Krippner to second base, and Lauren Libbesmeier singles to right center to score Krippner. In the second inning, Hedy Robben reaches on a walk, she advanced to second base on ground out by Alexa Ruehle, and scored on a double to right center field by Tashi Kunkel. The Cats exploded in the 3rd inning scoring 3 runs from hits by Utecht, L. Libbesmeier, Leither, Becky Holtz, Ruehle, and Krippner. The Mudcats defense and pitching were again very solid holding Brainerd to 1 run and completing the win with a score of 6-1.
Marty Mudcats enter the Championship to face Sartell Swarm. The swarm took the lead in the 2nd inning capitalizing on a walk and error to open the game at a score of 1-0. The Cats made some hitting adjustments after seeing majority of outside pitches in the previous two games and broke open the game in the 4th inning with two outs. Lauren Libbemeier reached on an error, Leither singled, Holtz reached on an error, and Katie Spaulding cracked a double to right center scoring all three runners to bring the score to 3-1. The trend continued in the 5th with two outs and Krippner reaching first base on a walk and Madi Libbesmeier nails a line drive double to center field scoring Krippner. In the 6th inning, the Mudcats added two insurance runs starting with a single from L. Libbesmeier and Leither, Spaulding advancing the runners on a groundout, and Robben with a solid single to right center scoring both runs. Solid defense and consistent pitching held the Swarm and brought home a championship to the Marty Mudcats winning with a score of 6-1.
This tournament completed 3 Team Championships from this summer and fall consisting of:
?Ä¢ Hutchinson 18U Tournament (8 team tournament on June 27, 28)
?Ä¢ 18U MMFL Tier 2 Summer State Championship in St. Cloud (16 team tournament on July 18, 19)
?Ä¢ 18U MMFL Tier 2 Fall State Championship (12 team tournament).
This team also competed in the NAFA 16U National Tournament in Shoreview, MN and tied with 4 teams for 9th place in the Silver Division (25 team Silver Division on July 23-25).
Players this fall and summer were: Becky Holtz, Shay Krippner, Tashi Kunkel, Ariel Laabs, Kenzie Leither, Madi Libbesmeier, Lauren Libbesmeier, Hedy Robben, Alexa Ruehle, Katie Spaulding, and Emily Utecht.
The Marty Mudcats are from left to right, in front, Madi Libbesmeier, Shay Krippner, Lauren Libbesmeier, and Tashi Kunkel, In back are Coach Rhonda Libbesmeier, Katie Spaulding, Kenzie Leither, Hedy Robben, Alexa Ruehle, Emily Utecht, Becky Holtz, and Coach Mary Libbesmeier. Submitted photo.
Majority of these players on this team have played together since the summer of 2008. I personally have never had a better experience coaching a fine group of athletes who compete at a high level and win as a team and lose as a team. They know how to keep a balance of having fun while also being competitive. Thank you to the all players for the great memories, stories, championships, and trophies. Thank you to the parents for all the support, travel times, hotel and camping stories, breakfast, lunch, dinner, Gatorade, canopies, extra practices, and patience. Thank you to all the assistance in coaching to Rhonda Libbesmeier and Shannon Miller; the team progress and the team culture wouldn?Äôt have been the same without you. Thank you to those who filled in on days that help was needed on the field, on the bench, with injuries, with tears, keeping the books, or carpooling. Thank you to Marguerite Laabs for all the years of the great pictures. Thank you to the local businesses and supporters who have helped us fundraise through these years. There is a quote that says: ?ÄúThere is no I in team.?Äù In looking at all the people that have impacted this group of young ladies, there definitely is no I in team. Thank you Marty Mudcats for all the memories and successes!