NORTH MANKATO, Minn. -- After 26 relatively quiet innings, the Badger-Greenbush-Middle River offense broke loose here Friday.
The Gators scored four runs in the 11th inning to beat Menahga 6-2 in the third-place game of the Minnesota Class A high school fastpitch softball tournament. B-G-MR's four runs in its final inning of the tournament matched the run total the Gators had scored in the first 26 innings of the state tournament.
The third-place finish at state was the highest in the B-G-MR program's history. The Gators set a program single-season record for wins, closing at 24-4.
"We just started whacking away and getting some timely hits," B-G-MR coach Kent Christian said of the 11th-inning outburst. "And, down here at state, you face good pitchers. They put a lot of hitters into slumps."
Hayley Hendrickson singled to open the 11th for B-G-MR. TyLynn McKeever followed by reaching base on an error, then Alissa Olson's two-run single up the middle broke the 2-2 tie. Janna Hall drove in Olson with a single. Hall eventually scored on a wild pitch.
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Erin Efta picked up the pitching win in relief of Rushelle Flaten, who was one out away from the win in the seventh when Menahga scored to force extra innings.
Flaten went 5-for-6 to lead a B-G-MR offense that totaled 13 hits, five of those in the final inning. Olson had two hits and Efta three.
The Gators had only one error in the three tournament games. "We played well," Christian said. "It wasn't that we had just one error; we made some spectacular plays during the tournament.
"It definitely was a good way to end the season, especially for our lone senior. Rushelle had a great game. She really tattooed the ball and threw a heckuva game."
Flaten, McKeever and Efta all were named to the all-tournament team.
The Gators figure to come back with a veteran team next season.
"The experience here can only help us next season," Christian said. "We'll miss Flaten. And with 8A softball getting better and better, it still will be anybody's game next season. I see four or five teams contending for the title."
