Bats Silenced; Owatonna Softball Eliminated from Section Playoffs

Owatonna had not been shut out all season long. Then on Thursday, it happened twice and the Huskies were knocked out of the Section 1-4A playoffs. Lakeville South topped OHS 13-0 in six innings on a walk-off grand slam. Northfield ended the Huskies' season with a 10-0 five-inning decision.

The Huskies threatened in the top of the first against South as Izzy Radel walked and got to second on a passed ball. She got stranded there. OHS had just two other baserunners in the game, one on a walk and the other was hit by a pitch.

Owatonna coach Jeremy Moran said, "Lakeville South has perhaps the best pitcher in the section and it showed today as we were unable to get anything going offensively as she was able to hold us without a hit over 6 innings.  South also hit the ball really well scoring 13 runs on 14 hits." Lakeville South won 13-0.

After a disappointing loss to open the day, the Huskies faced a Northfield team that was on a roll. "We had no momentum at all after such a tough loss in the first game and Northfield just finished up a game where they hit the ball very well.  They carried that momentum into the game against us.  They keep their momentum rolling and we continued to struggle with only four hits and zero runs again," Moran stated.

Northfield scored four in the first inning, capped by a three-run home run. The Raiders added three in the third and a trio more in the fourth. OHS put runners in scoring position in each of the first three innings but the clutch hits they had been getting lately were not to be had on Thursday. Northfield won 10-0.

Moran said, "It was really hard to finish the season this way.  We finished 13-10 and had some good wins during the regular season and to end this way, it was hard.  I told the team that the way we played today does not define our season.  We still accomplished some good things this season.  Now we need to go out and work hard in the offseason so that we can come back ready to take another step forward next season."

"Tonight we say goodbye to our seniors.  Student manager Olivia Shaw and 3B/P Parris Hovden.  Their experience and leadership will be missed and we appreciate all that they have done for the program."

Northfield will face Lakeville North in an elimination game Tuesday, May 31 while Farmington and Lakeville South play in the winner's bracket final. The winner of the Raiders/Panthers game will play the loser of the Tigers/Cougars game on Tuesday as well. The final day of the event is Thursday, June 2. All games are at Todd Park in Austin.