Class AA Softball Championship: LeSueur-Henderson captures first crown
Posted: Wednesday, June 16, 2021 - 3:58 PM
Class AA softball
LeSueur-Henderson captured the first softball championship in program history on Wednesday, June 16, following a 7-1 victory over St. Charles in the Class AA title game at Caswell Park in North Mankato. In a previous championship game appearance, the Giants (24-1) were the Class AA runner-up in 2014.
The Giants were dominant from start to finish during their three-game run to a state crown. On Tuesday, LeSueur-Henderson opened with a 5-0 victory over Hawley in the quarterfinals. Later, the Giants raced past Annandale in a 13-2 victory in the semifinals.
Just more than 14 hours later, LeSuer-Henderson was off again with three runs in the bottom of the first inning to erase an early 1-0 deficit. The lead extended to 6-1 with three more runs over the third and fourth innings to create a 6-1 advantage. Center fielder Halle Bemmels was 3 for 3 with three runs scored for the Giants and third baseman Olivia Fritz was 3 for 3 with three runs batted in.
Pitcher Chole Brandt finished a strong tournament with 13 strikeouts in the championship game.
Third baseman Lauryn Delger was 3 for 4 with two RBIs for the Saints (24-5), who were seeking the school’s first championship in any sport.
Third place
Second baseman Jennah Groth was 2 for 4 with three RBIs to held send Annandale to an 11-7 victory over Pipestone in the Class AA third-place game. The Cardinals (25-3) turned what was a two-run deficit in the bottom of the fifth inning into the lead for good by scoring five runs on three hits. First baseman Josie Jerpseth also contributed two hits with two runs batted in.
Center fielder MacKenzie Manderscheid was 3 for 4 with two runs scored for Pipestone (26-5).
