MSHSL State Softball Champions Determined

The Randolph Rockets moved from Class 1A to Class 2A this year due to the enrollment criteria set up by the Minnesota State High School League ( MSHSL).

It didn't seem to faze them, capping off their season with a 3-0 win over Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial Friday, June 7, 2024 to capture their second title in 4 years.  Randolph has been to the State Fastpitch Tournament six years in a row.

The Rockets were (27-1).  Their only loss came in Section 1AA play in Austin when they fell to Caledonia,

Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial finished (23-3) in their second-ever trip to state and the second place finish is their greatest accomplishment in the sport.

Carter Raymond, junior, pitched Randolph to their second consecutive shutout victory.  Their 20th shutout win of the season.  Raymond fanned 6, walked 1 batter in the title game.

Allie Gillette, sophomore, clubbed a 2-RBI double in the third inning that scored Raymond and  Kylee Carey, junior,  Carey delivered an RBI single in the 7th for an insurance run. Paige Otte, freshman, scored after leading the top of the inning with putting a ball in play ending in an error.  Otte went to second base on a passed ball before the Carey single.

Randolph was the top seed, LCWM #2 seed in the tournament.  The final Minnesota Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association rankings had the Rockets #1 and Knights #2 also.

Randolph had one senior on this year's team so chances are they will be a favorite to get back to state next spring.

Third place game had St. Cloud Cathedral (25-3) score a 3-1 win over St. Agnes (24-4).

Consolation Champions are Dassel-Cokato (21-6) following a 1-0 victory over Glencoe-Silver Lake (19-8)

Class 1A title goes to New Ulm Cathedral (27-2) after rolling to 10-4 win over Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley (21-5).  The Greyhounds achieved their state softball championship.  First since 2014.

Russell-Tyler-Ruthton (25-5) defeated West Lutheran (19-6) in a dominant12-1 five inning game at Caswell Park in North Mankato.

Red Lake Falls (24-6) blanked Moose Lake/Willow River (14-13) in a 2-0 Consolation Championship.

Class 3A title holders for the second straight year are Mankato East Cougars (20-6) after a 6-1 win over top ranked, top seeded Cretin-Derham Hall (20-7).

Kylinn Stangl, junior, allowed 4 hits while striking out 6 and walking 3 Raiders batters.

The Cougars scored all of their runs in the top of the 7th inning after amassing 4 hits and taking advantage of 5 Cretin-Derham Hall errors.

Hailey Petzel, senior, hammered a solo home run among her two hits for Mankato East who ended the contest with 7 hits.  Madeline Beaty, junior, and Kenley Staunton, 7th grade, also had 2 hits each.

Mankato East continued the Big Nine Conference dominance of Class 3A.  Since the move to four classes in 2016 a Big Nine school has been the state title holder in 7 of the 8 years (no tournament in 2020)

Five different Big Nine schools have earned the championship trophy. (Mankato West twice, Winona, Faribault, Northfield, and Mankato East twice.

St. Francis (20-6) won third place game 8-2 over Winona (20-6).

Consolation Champions are Rocori (21-3) following a 8-6 win over Simley (18-8).

Class 4A title went to Rogers Royals (22-3) after a 3-0 win over New Prague (21-4).  The Royals had more hits (8 to 3).

Jordan Marsh, senior, New Prague, allowed 8 hits, struck out 10 and walked 1 batter in the tough luck loss.  There were no errors recorded in the 1 hour, 38 minute game.

Rogers captured it's first-ever title in softball in it's second trip to state while New Prague was in it's third MSHSL State Fastpitch Softball Tournament.

Defending State Champion Rosemount (23-5) won 3-2 over Forest Lake (19-6) for the third place individual medals and team trophy.

Consolation Champions are St. Michael-Albertville (20-6) following a 10-8 win over Edina (17-11).