The defending Section champion Kenyon-Wanamingo Knights had a hot start in their final game of the season before falling to Randolph 17-7 in six innings.

The Knights started the game with a bit of the same magic they rode to a state tournament berth a year ago. They clubbed four first-inning hits and plated four runs before taking the field. The bottom of the first was up and down in order for Randolph, and senior pitcher Shayla Berkner had two strikeouts.

The second inning, though, would be a precursor of things to come, with Randolph scoring two runs without a hit. The two runners that scored got on base via a walk. Through three innings K-W led 4-2 and Berkner allowed just one hit.

In the fourth inning, senior Megan Quam led off with a single and scored on a double by Berkner. In the bottom of the inning the Rockets got a grand slam blast from junior Alexa Thesing over the center field fence. The previous two batters had been walked and there was a hit batsman who scored on a wild pitch earlier in the inning. The six runs scored came on three hits.

Kenyon-Wanamingo kept battling, adding two runs in the fifth inning and had the chance to take the lead. Kelsey Noah led the inning with a single and after Mariah Quam was walked the Knights were in business. Kaitlin Knott laid down a beautiful bunt single. Megan Quam smacked a ball to center field and Randolph's Wendy Splichal made a spectacular diving catch. If that ball gets by her it probably clears the bases and gives K-W the lead back. Designated player Izzy Finholm hit a hard grounder to short that Bianca Styoesz knocked down and threw to third to force out Mariah Quam. Berkner then clubbed her third consecutive double of the game to score Knott, but the inning ended because a runner rounded too far around third and was tagged out to end the inning.

Randolph added five runs in another tough inning to watch with walks and errors contributing mightily. The Rockets had just one hit in the inning and there were six walks.

The heart of the K-W order came up and down in order in the sixth and it was more of the same in the bottom of the inning with back-to-back walks to start the inning. Head coach Rich Kincaid made a pitching change and sophomore Brandi Remold came in the pitching circle. Stoesz greeted her with an RBI single, Thesing clubbed a RBI double and two errors factored in the scoring of four runs and the game was over.

Randolph's Kendra Emery was touched for 10 hits, but walked just three batters while striking out just two Knights. K-W's Shayla Berkner finished with nine strikeouts, but had 16 walks (one intentional). Randolph had seven hits in the game. Every single batter in the Rocket order walked at least once in the game.

It was a heartbreaking way for eight K-W seniors to finish their high school careers, which included that incredible run to the state tournament last year.

Randolph heads to Hayfield on Wednesday. The top-seeded Vikings rolled to a 10-0 win over Southland on Monday night.

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