Girls Softball: St. Cloud Cathedral hits "reset" and captures Class AA title

Late Wednesday evening, St. Cloud Cathedral pulled off the improbable by stunning No. 1 seed Randolph in the Class AA semifinals of the Minnesota State High School League’s Girls Softball State Tournament at Caswell Park in North Mankato. Randolph had a standout lineup and was considered the best high school softball team in Minnesota.

“We felt like we had just won the state championship,” junior pitcher Keira Alexandra said. 

“That Randolph game was one for the ages,” Crusaders coach Todd Dingmann said. “We pulled it out somehow. I’m not sure how we got that done.”

The victory that earned St. Cloud Cathedral a spot in a softball championship game proved to be a test of mental fortitude, an exercise in tucking away an emotional win for reflection later and spinning the focus ahead for one last time to take care of business with the real state championship at stake. 

St. Cloud Cathedral, the No. 4 seed to open the Class AA bracket, hit “reset” in convincing fashion with a 7-2 victory over No. 6 Hawley in the Class AA championship game on Friday, June 6 at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium on the University of Minnesota campus. Sophomore center fielder Kyah Koenig had three runs batted in and junior first baseman Tayla Vought chipped in two to power the Crusaders (26-2).

Alexander scattered five hits and struck out five in recording her third victory during the state tournament. She had a rocky start, though. She opened the first inning by plunking the first two Hawley (27-3) batters she faced. Then she walked the next batter to load the bases. The dangerous start subsided when she induced to infield pop ups and an inning-ending fly to the outfield.

“It started rough, but ended on a positive note,” Alexander said. “I am so fortunate to have the confidence of my teammates. I feel their support during that kind of adversity.”

Said Dingmann: “It made me feel like things were on our side. It was a big zero on the board to start.”

St. Cloud Cathedral scored five runs in the bottom of the third inning to help pave the way to its first softball championship. The Crusaders extended an early 2-0 lead to five on a long drive by Koenig to the outfield. She went all the way around the bases, scoring the two teammates in front of her, and suddenly the Crusaders had a five-run advantage. 

The Crusaders cruised from there and didn’t surrender much until the top of the seventh when Hawley junior third baseman Hannah Stotts hit a three-run inside-the-park home run. 

“This is truly a team, each accepting their role,” St. Cloud Cathedral activities director Emmett Keenan said. “They have played together for years and really enjoy each other’s successes.”