2009 State Softball Tournament
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New Life Academy of Woodbury defends Class A crown; Hermantown wins third title;
Elk River captures first championship in Class AAA
New Life Academy of Woodbury was the only team to successfully defend its 2008 title at the 2009 State Softball Tournament. The Eagles defeated Maple Lake for a second consecutive year to take top honors in Class A.
In Class AA, the Hermantown Hawks won their third title in their 16th appearance after defeating the first-time qualifiers from Minnehaha Academy of Minneapolis. Class AAA honors went to Elk River. It was the first title for the Elks, who defeated North of North St. Paul in the championship game.
Class A
For a second consecutive year, New Life Academy of Woodbury (22-6) defeated Maple Lake (23-4-1) in the Class A championship game. The Eagles won 3-0 in 2008, and 7-0 this year. New Life Academy was making its fourth consecutive and overall appearance this year, while Maple Lake was making its second consecutive and overall.
The Eagles scored three unearned runs in the first inning of the title game, with two of them coming on throwing errors. They added another unearned run in the third inning and then sophomore Jenny Simonson hit a three-run double in the bottom of the sixth for the final margin.
Simonson, who set a new state record with her 53 putouts over three games, hit two doubles in the game. Senior Jenny Ramey also had two doubles in the victory and senior pitcher Danielle Schmidt added two more hits. Schmidt went all seven innings for New Life Academy with nine strikeouts and no walks. She also set a new state tournament record by firing 55 strikeouts over three games.
Senior Ashley Kempenich and sophomore Ashley Gries accounted for Maple Lake’s two hits. Kempenich also pitched a complete game for the Irish. She allowed seven hits while throwing six strikeouts and adding three walks.
New Life Academy of Woodbury started the tournament with a 3-2, 11-inning victory over the first-time qualifiers from Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial. The Eagles led 2-0 before senior Amber Hohenstein hit a two-run home run in the top of the sixth inning to tie the score. The tie stayed in place until the bottom of the 11th inning when Danielle Schmidt hit a single to right field that scored sophomore Katie Stodolka.
Schmidt also set a state tournament record with 32 strikeouts in the victory. In all, she allowed six hits and walked three. The previous record of 22 strikeouts for an extra-inning game was set last year by Chelsey Durland of Orono.
In the semifinals, New Life Academy scored three runs in the fifth inning to break open a 4-0 lead. Jenny Ramey scored three runs for the Eagles, and she and sophomore Rebekah Schmidt also had two hits apiece. Danielle Schmidt pitched a no-hitter for New Life Academy with 14 strikeouts and three walks.
Maple Lake started its tournament trek with a 4-3 quarterfinal victory over Wabasso. Irish sophomore Ashley Gries doubled in the bottom of the ninth and scored on a sacrifice bunt off the bat of senior Amanda Horst to secure the victory. Ashley Kempenich went the distance to earn the win, allowing three runs on eight hits while striking out eight.
The Irish advanced and beat Sacred Heart of East Grand Forks 4-2 in the semifinals. Kempenich had two RBI on two hits and also pitched all seven innings for Maple Lake. She threw eight strikeouts and allowed one earned run.
Sacred Heart came back to claim third-place honors after defeating Silver Bay 1-0. Senior Sandy Novak drove in the Eagles’ only run in the top of the seventh inning. Sophomore pitcher Darcy Roach had a one-hitter for Sacred Heart, striking out five batters for the win.
Wabasso went home with the consolation hardware. Eighth-grader Kimberly Frank had three hits and one RBI as the Rabbits defeated Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial 2-0. Senior pitcher Ashley Fennern went all seven innings for Wabasso, allowing five hits while striking out seven and walking two.
Class AA
The Hermantown Hawks (27-3) improved on last year’s fourth-place showing and won their third title after defeating Minnehaha Academy of Minneapolis 7-0. The Hawks, who were making their second consecutive and 16th overall appearance, won previous championships in 1991 and 2002. This was the first tournament appearance for the Redhawks of Minnehaha Academy (23-5).
Hermantown scored one run in the bottom of the fist inning and added four more in the fourth. Senior Samantha Lafontaine came alive in the fourth, hitting her second double of the day down the left-field line and scoring senior Sam Downey and junior Ellen Folman. Senior Janae Baron also scored on the play on a throwing error by the catcher.
Lafontaine finished the day 3-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI. Junior pitcher Megan Mullen pitched her third consecutive shutout for Hermantown, tossing
More
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Section Tournaments
(B indicates a Bracket is available) |
| Sec. |
Date |
Site |
B |
| 1A |
May 29 -June 1, 2010 |
Austin Todd Park
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| 2A |
May25,29,June 1 3, 2010 |
High Seeds & Caswell Park-North Mankato |
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| 3A |
May 21 (Pigtails)
May 25, 29, June 1, & 3, 2010
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TBD |
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| 4A |
jUNE 2-3, 2010 |
Hamline University |
B
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| 5A |
June 1, 3, 2010 |
Whitney Field, St. Cloud |
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| 6A |
5-25-10 through
6-3-2010 |
Pillager
& other sites |
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| 7A |
May 24, 25, 27,June 1, 3 , 2010 |
Cloquet & Cohasset |
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| 8A |
June 3, 2010 |
Ada
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| 1AA |
May 29 - June 1, 2010 |
Austin Todd Park |
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| 2AA |
May 25, 29
June 1,3, 2010 |
High Seeds & Caswell Park-North Mankato |
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| 3AA |
May 25, 29, June 1, & 3, 2010 |
TBD |
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| 4AA |
jUNE 2-3 2010 |
Hamline University |
B
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| 5AA |
June 1,3,
2010 |
Watertown Mayer HS |
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| 6AA |
June 1,3, 2010 |
Whitney Field, St. Cloud |
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| 7AA |
May 25, 27,
June 1,3, 2010 |
Cloquet & Cohasset |
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| 8AA |
5-25--10 through
6-3-2010 |
TBD |
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| 1AAA |
May 26,
May 28,June 1,3 |
High Seed
Austin |
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| 2AAA |
May 28, 2010
June 1, 2010
June 3, 2010
June 4, 2010
(If necessary)
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Miller Park
Eden Prairie |
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| 3AAA |
May 21, 24, 26, 28, June 1, 2 , 2010 |
High Seed and Lexington Diffley Park |
B
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| 4AAA |
May 17 ,18,20,26,27 2010 |
McKnight Fields (North St.Paul) |
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| 5AAA |
May 24,25,27
June 1,3, 2010
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Rice Creek Park-Shoreview |
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| 6AAA |
2010
TBD |
Richfield Middle School - 75th & Oliver |
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| 7AAA |
Playin May 25, 2010
Quarter May 27, 2010
Final Four June 2, 2010 |
Home Site
Home Site
Princeton
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| 8AAA |
Seed - May 23, 2010
Day 1 - May 26, 2010
Day 2 - May 31, 2010
Day 3 - June 2, 2010
Day 4 - June 3, 2010 (If Need)
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Day 1 - (2 games) @ #1, #2, #3 Seeds - 4 pm / 6 pm (1 game) @ #4 Seed - 4 pm
Day 2 - (4 games) @ Top Remaining Seed - 12 pm/2 pm
Day 3 - (2 games) @ Top Remaining Seed - 4 pm / 6 pm
Day 4 (1 game if needed) @ Top Seed - 5 pm |
B
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