Class AAAA Softball Championship: Rosemount 3 for 3 in title games
Posted: Wednesday, June 16, 2021 - 4:41 PM
Rosemount remains perfect in softball championship games. In two previous appearances, the Irish captured titles in 1979 (Class AA) and in 2006 (Class AAA). Update the record book to show that Rosemount is now to 3 for 3.
The Irish (24-1), seeded No. 3 to open the 2021 softball state tournament at Caswell Park in North Mankato, slammed its way to a third championship in as many tries with a 5-1 victory over unseeded Forest Lake in the championship game. First baseman Paige Zender capped the championship run with a grand slam in the bottom of the fifth inning to straightaway centerfield to Rosemount a 5-0 lead. She finished 2 for 3 and accounted for all five of Rosemount’s RBIs. In the third inning, she had opened the scoring for Rosemount with a run-scoring single to center field.
Rosemount ace Jessa Snippes limited Forest Lake’s aggressive offense to just five hits while striking out 10.
The Irish qualified for the championship game with an 8-3 victory over No. 2 Centennial in the semifinals on Tuesday. Rosemount used a big outburst in that game, too, with four fun in the bottom of the first inning. They then tacked on three more in the sixth. Shortstop Izzy Yahr was 2 for 3 with two runs scored and three RBIs in the semifinals, all coming on a home run to left center field.
In qualifying for the championship game, Forest Lake was attempting to complete an upset binge. The Rangers opened with an 8-5 victory over No. 1 Stillwater in the quarterfinals. Many hours later, Forest Lake then recorded a 5-4 victory over No. 4 Chanhassen in the semifinals.
First baseman/catcher Bethany Weiss had two of the five hits for Forest Lake (24-5) in the championship game. Forest Lake was seeking to claim its first-ever softball championship following runner-up finishes in 1995, 2000, and 2011.
Third place
Centennial scored five runs over the fourth and fifth innings to surge past Chanhassen for a 6-3 victory in the Class AAAA third-place game. First baseman Helene Krage was 3 ofr 3 with two runs scored and three RBIs for the Cougars (23-2). She had an RBI double in the first inning and then had a two-run home run in the fifth inning.
Second baseman Grace Clausen had two hits for the Storm (22-4).
