MSHSL Softball Playoffs Some Teams End Seasons Others Continue

Defending Section 1A champion Bethlehem Academy had their season end Thursday at Todd Park in Austin while the Faribault Falcons remain alive in Section 1AAA.

Blooming Prairie is in the Section 1A Winner's Bracket semi-final against Cinderella Wabasha-Kellogg.

Randolph is still undefeated and in the semi-final of Section 1AA after two shutout wins in Rochester,  They will play St. Charles on Tuesday, May 28, 2024.

Owatonna upset top seed Farmington 4-3 to advance to the semi-final in Section 1AAAA.  The Huskies will face New Prague after the Trojans won a pitcher's duel with Rochester Century.

The final eight remaining teams in Section 2A are #1 seed New Ulm Cathedral vs #4 Springfield and #2 seed United South Central vs Martin County West in the winner's bracket.

Still alive in the elimination bracket are #9 seed Red Rock Central/Westbrook-Walnut Grove vs  #5 Sleepy Eye and #7 Cleveland vs #11 Madelia,

The games are scheduled for 10:00 a.m. and Noon Saturday at Caswell Park in North Mankato.

Tri-City United gave top seed Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial a competitive game.  The #8 seed Titans fell by a 5-1 score.  Meanwhile #5 seed Le Sueur-Henderson downed #4 Fairmont 5-2,  Those winners play at Caswell Park at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, May 25, 2024.

#2 seed Belle Plaine breezed to a 10-0 win over #7 Maple River and #3 seed Jordan cruised to a 17-0 win over NRHEG.  Those winners also play Saturday in North Mankato at the same time.

10:00 a.m. Saturday Tri-City United goes up against Fairmont and NRHEG tangles with Maple River in the elimination bracket with the loser's of winner's bracket contests playing the winners of elimination games at Noon.  v

The two winner's bracket survivors play 4:00 p.m. Saturday at the same location.

Bethlehem Academy had their season end when Southland won 6-3 in the elimination bracket.  The Cardinals outhit the Rebels 8-5 but couldn't get the timely hit.  BA had a 1-0 lead after two innings.

Morgan Wilson, junior, walked 3, struck out 4 batters while throwing 102 pitches, 69 strikes.  Wilson also stroked 2 hits in the contest.  Caitlin Bothun, sophomore, hammered a double for the only extra base hit in the game.  Kaylee Katra, junior, had achieved a pair of hits.

The Cardinals were the #2 seed in the tournament and finished the season with a 13-7 record.  BA had one senior, Maressa Hanson on their roster so all their starters will be back next season.

Kenyon-Wanamingo won two games Thursday, 10-4 over Houston and 6-5 over Lewiston-Altura.

Hayfield lost 4-3 in winner's bracket of Section 1A, then got by Southland 1-0.  The Knights and Vikings play Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. in Todd Park in Austin.  The Gopher Conference members met in the second round where Hayfield won a pitcher's duel.

In Section 1AAA Faribault was walked-off 5-4 by Stewartville to get sent to the elimination bracket where they dominated Byron 10-2 meaning they are still playing on Tuesday, May 28, 2024 in Austin.

In the heartbreaking loss to the Tigers the Falcons tallied more hits (8 to 7) but also had more errors (3 to 1).  Amira Williams, freshman, cracked a double, had 2 hits and 2 RBI.  Rylee Sietsema, senior, also collected 2 hits..  Reagan Drengenberg, senior, had 2 hits and a stolen base.

Sietsema kept her team in the game from the pitching circle with 7 strikeouts, 4 walks while throwing 120 pitches, 71 strikes.  Stewartville had no extra base hits.

The Falcons sent the Byron Bears into hibernation with a dominate performance, jumping out to a 5-0 lead early and adding 5 more runs in the 5th and 6th while cranking out 10 hits off two Byron pitchers.

Reagan Drengenberg had 3 hits, including a double and 2 RBI,  Sietsema added 2 RBI with 1 hit, Williams smacked a pair of hits including a double with 2 RBI,  Emma Minnick, senior, had a hit and 2 RBI.

Sietsema did not allow a earned run in the game while throwing 106 pitches, 68 strikes.  She struck out 7 and walked 3 batters.  The 11-11 Faribault squad will face Red Wing in the elimination bracket at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 28, 2024 in Austin.  The winner will play at 6 that evening against the loser of the winner's bracket semi-final game between top seed Winona and #2 seed Stewartville.

#6 seed Faribault defeated #3 seed Northfield on Wednesday.  The Raiders fell to Red Wing 2-1 Thursday to end their season with a 13-9 record.