Farmington stays alive in playoffs
You would think people don’t need to be reminded that Rosemount has a strong softball program.
But after a combined 71-5 record from 2021 through 2023 and two state championships in those three seasons, coach Tiffany Rose sensed that some expected the Irish to take a step back. After all, some of the key players from that stretch had moved on to play at Division I college programs.
The 2024 Irish are here to prove Rosemount softball hasn’t gone anywhere. After defeating Park of Cottage Grove 1-0 in eight innings Tuesday, they are one victory from reaching the state tournament for the third time in four years.
Rosemount takes on Park again for the section championship at 3 p.m. Thursday at the M-Health Fairview Sports Complex in Woodbury. The Irish (20-3) have two opportunities to get their victory, while Park needs to beat Rosemount twice to win the section.
Park defeated Eagan 5-4 in the elimination-bracket final Wednesday afternoon. The Wildcats finished 11-14.
“I think people are really thinking about Rosemount in terms of ’21, ’22 and ’23,” Rose said. “But this group of girls, I’m telling you, they are good. We have so much experience on the bench. We have 10 girls who were with us last year at the state tournament, so they know what it feels like and looks like. When you’re in a situation like this, whether they played or didn’t play (at last year’s state tournament), they’ve been in that moment.”
Tuesday, the key moment came in the bottom of the eighth after neither team scored in the first 7 1/2 innings. Leadoff hitter Cece Hanson was hit by a pitch. Ariana Princl put down a bunt in front of home plate, but there was contact between Princl and a Park infielder, with Princl being called out for interference.
The umpires conferred for several minutes before reversing the call, concluding that the infielder initiated the contact and Princl was safe. An infield single by Kayla Bartol loaded the bases before Grace Nosan’s sharp single to left scored Hanson.
Nosan was 2-for-3 to go with the game-winning run batted in. Pitcher Jorey Fry held Park (16-7) to four hits over eight innings and struck out three.
Fry, a junior, is in her first season as the starting varsity pitcher. Rose said Fry is perfectly suited for playoff games.
“If you were to walk up to the field, you wouldn’t know if she was winning or losing,” the coach said. “You wouldn’t be able to tell if it was a full count or two strikes because she has ice in her veins.”
Rosemount, ranked second in Class 4A behind Farmington, tied the Tigers for the South Suburban Conference championship. The Irish outscored opponents 18-1 in three playoff victories.
Of the 10 Rosemount players with 29 or more at-bats this season, nine have averages of .345 or higher. But the team is about more than offense, Rose said.
“All the things we’ve done in prior years have prepared this group for what they’re doing this year,” she said. “Everybody in the lineup is hitting, they’re playing good defense, and Jorey has been outstanding. Up and down the lineup and on the bench, everybody’s been doing their job.”
Eagan defeated Eastview 6-1 in an elimination-bracket game Tuesday before falling to Park on Wednesday. The Wildcats won nine of their last 13 games.
Class 4A, Section 1
No. 1-ranked Farmington is back in the Class 4A, Section 1 finals – and will need two more victories to go to the state tournament for the second consecutive year.
The Tigers will take on New Prague for the championship at 5 p.m. Thursday at Todd Park in Austin. New Prague is undefeated in the tournament and Farmington has one loss, meaning the Tigers will need to beat New Prague twice. It’s a route similar to the one Farmington took last year, when it lost in the second round of sections then won five in a row to earn the state berth.
On Tuesday, Farmington (21-4) defeated Lakeville North 4-1 and Owatonna 10-0 in elimination-bracket games in Austin to reach the section final. New Prague (18-3) beat Owatonna in the winners’ bracket final.
Ellie Peterson was 2-for-3 with a home run in the Lakeville North game. Leah Oistad put the Tigers in front with a two-run double in the first inning. Kayla Schweich pitched a six-hitter and struck out four. Nora Brandt and Eryn Johns had two hits each for North, which finished 9-12.
Farmington got revenge for a second-round loss to Owatonna by putting away the Huskies in 4 1/2 innings in the elimination-bracket final. The Tigers scored five runs in each of the first two innings. Peterson was 2-for-2 with another homer and drove in three runs. Kamryn Hughes, Lila Johannsen and Oistad each had two RBIs, and Johannsen also homered. Marissa Mittelstadt struck out six and allowed three hits through five innings.
The Farmington-New Prague winner will advance to the state Class 4A tournament beginning Wednesday, June 5, in North Mankato.
Class 3A, Section 3
Apple Valley lost to Holy Angels 3-1 on Wednesday in the elimination-bracket final of the Class 3A, Section 3 tournament. Holy Angels plays Simley for the championship Thursday afternoon.
Apple Valley (5-19 overall) went 2-15 in the rugged South Suburban Conference before finishing third in its section. After losing to South St. Paul 6-4 in the opening round, the Eagles rode Aliyah Passmore’s no-hitter to a 1-0 victory over Richfield to stay alive.
Passmore again figured prominently in a rematch with South St. Paul on Tuesday. This time her home run in the bottom of the seventh gave the Eagles a 7-6 victory, sending them to the next round and eliminating South St. Paul. It was Passmore’s second homer of the game; she also hit a solo shot in the first inning.
Eagles catcher Isabella Kruckow was 2-for-4 with one RBI in Tuesday's game, and Keura Roloff was the winning pitcher.
Most Popular
Comments / 0