Softball State Tournament; Class AAA Recap
Posted: Friday, June 10, 2022 - 6:00 PM
An all-Big 9 Conference matchup between Winona and Mankato West had more than just bragging rights on the line Friday, June 10, 2022 at Caswell Park in North Mankato. This time, it was Mankato West that turned the table on Winona in their second matchup of the season with a 5-1 victory in the Class AAA championship game of the Minnesota State High School League’s Softball State Tournament.
In mid-May, Winona recorded a 7-5 victory over Mankato West, a win that figured into the Winhawks receiving the No. 1 seed for the Class AAA tournament and Mankato West earned the No. 2 seed. In the rematch, the Scarlets (23-4) made their move in the sixth inning with three runs that created separation from a 2-1 lead it had secured in the third inning.
It is the third state championship for the Scarlets. Mankato West was the Class AA champion in 1990 and the Class AAA champion in 2016. Runner-up finishes came in 2008 and 2019. Senior pitcher Abigail Stierlien played a starring role at the plate and in the circle. She had three RBIs, including a two-run double to centerfield in the deciding sixth inning. In the pitching circle, she scattered seven hits, struck out three and trusted the defense behind her.
Winona (23-2) settled for a runner-up finish for the third time since 2016 and second consecutive season. The Winhawks, the Class AAA champion in 2017, was paced senior left fielder Kayla Robinson, who had two hits.
Third place
Chisago Lakes made its state tournament debut a memorable one after recording an 8-2 victory over Simley in the third-place game. Sophomore rightfielder Samantha Johnson was 3 for 4 and sophomore catcher Melanie Anderson was 2 for 4 with three RBIs for the Wildcats (22-5). Freshman first baseman Anna Zaruba chipped with two hits, two runs scored and two RBIs. Simley, the Section 3AAA champion, finished the season 15-11.
Consolation
Third-seeded St. Anthony Village ended the season with a victory following a 10-0 win over Benilde-St. Margaret’s in five innings in the consolation final. The Huskies (24-3) used an eight-run outburst in the top of the fifth inning to race past the Red Knights (15-9). Junior shortstop Anneliese Bauman was 2 for 4 with three RBIs for the Huskies. Senior pitcher Ellen Peterson limited the Red Knights to two hits while striking out seven.
