NORTH MANKATO, Minn. - One game into the Minnesota Class A state high school fastpitch tournament, Badger-Greenbush-Middle River assured itself of its best-ever showing in the tournament.
The Gators opened their fourth state appearance by edging Cherry-Cotton 2-1 in the quarterfinals Thursday. But B-G-MR's bid for a state title ended late Thursday with a 1-0 loss in nine innings to New Life Academy of Woodbury.
The victory guaranteed B-G-MR of a top-four finish at state. In their previous three appearances, the Gators' best showing was a fifth-place finish in 2008.
Badger-Greenbush-Middle River took advantage of its opportunities in its win. Cherry-Cotton actually outhit the Gators 8-2. But B-G-MR's Lynsi Emery scored in the second inning without benefit of a hit for a 1-0 Gators lead. Then, in the bottom of the third, Erin Efta's home run broke a 1-1 tie.
That was enough for winning pitcher Rushelle Flaten, as the senior improved her season record to 10-1. Efta came on for the save in the seventh, relieving with one out and runners on first and third and not allowing a run.
ADVERTISEMENT
"Erin hit her home run well, a blast to center field,'' B-G-MR coach Kent Christian said. "And Rushelle threw really well.''
Woodbury got the semifinal win in the ninth when it loaded the bases with nobody out, then scored on a squeeze bunt.
Efta threw a complete game. But the B-G-MR bats struggled, managing only six hits while striking out 18 times.
"We played exceptionally well overall,'' Christian said. "Defensively, we were really tough. We got great pitching. We just didn't get the big two-out hits, especially in the second game. We had two runners on base a few times, but we couldn't come up with the big hit.''
Badger-Greenbush-Middle River plays Menagha in the third-place game at 11 a.m. today.
