Girls Softball: United South Central completes a sweep of firsts for champions

Playing the inaugural Prep Softball Championship Series at Jane Sage Cowles on the University of Minnesota campus wasn’t the only “first” that was recorded on Friday, June 6. There were four more to follow. 

With United South Central’s 2-0 victory over Badger/Greenbush-Middle River in the Class A championship game in the final title game of the day, it marked a first title for each of the champions in the four enrollment classes. Champlin Park started the spree by winning the Class AAAA crown in the first game of the day and then Rocori completed an impressive state tournament with its first crown. In the second session, gritty St. Cloud Cathedral captured its first crown, and against the backdrop of a picturesque sunset, United South Central completed the sweep. 

United South Central was the only top seed in the four enrollment classes to emerge as a state champion. The Rebels did so behind the right arm of junior pitcher Mariah Anderson and some timely hitting. 

“We didn’t hit the ball as well as usual but give them give them credit,” United South Central coach Todd Schmidtke said of Badger/Greenbush-Middle River. “They made some really good defensive plays. That is a great team.”

While each team mustered just two hits, only United South Central (26-1) was able to find a way to manufacture enough for a victory. The Rebels managed two runs in the bottom of the second, including a run batted in from senior catcher Taylor Schroeder. 

That was plenty for Anderson who recorded 19 strikeouts. That came on the heels of striking out 20 in United South Central’s semifinal victory over Braham on Wednesday night. Her 52 strikeouts for three state tournament games were three short of the record of 55 set by New Life Academy’s Danielle Schmidt in 2009. 

No. 6-seed Badger/Greenbush-Middle River (21-7) is now a five-time softball runner-up.