Softball notes

State tourney to have slightly different look

Hadley Wachal pitched a complete game in JCC’s 7-2, 14-inning win over Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta in the Section 3AA championship game in Marshall.

This year’s state softball tournament will have a bit of a different look.

Caswell Park has hosted the tournament since 1994, and it will be the site of 40 of the tournament’s 44 games this year but something new is in store for the four state championship games.

The North Mankato facility will host the quarterfinals, semifinals, consolation rounds and third-place games Tuesday through Thursday.

All four championship games will be held at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis on Friday.

The Minnesota Fastpitch Coaches Association cited gender equity as a reason for the new location for the championship games. The state baseball finals have been held at Target Field, home of Major League Baseball’s Minnesota Twins for several years.

First-time entrants

There are five teams among the 32 that qualified for the tournament that are in the tourney for the first time:

• Class 1A: Blackduck, United South Central

• Class 2A: Spectrum

• Class 3A: Byron

• Class 4A: Champlin Park

Here’s a look at the tournaments for Class 1A, Class 3A and Class 4A. The Class 2A tourney is previewed in a separate post.

Class 1A

United South Central, 23-1 on the season, is making its state tournament debut as the top seed.

The Rebels went through the regular season and the first three games of the postseason without a loss until Martin County West was a 6-5 winner over USC in the Section 2A championship series.

United South Central answered with a 6-0 shutout to advance to state.

A signature win for the Rebels came on May 12 with a 1-0 victory over Randolph, which is the number one seed in the 2A tourney.

Coach Todd Schmidtke’s team plays eighth-seeded Blackduck (22-3) in the quarterfinals. The Drakes are also at state for the first time and take an 11-game winning streak into the tourney.

Second-seeded Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley (23-1) faces No. 7 Bethlehem Academy (16-4) in the quarterfinals. CGB was runner-up to New Ulm Cathedral last year and is looking to take another step this week. The Wolverines suffered their first loss in the Section 6A finals but bounced back with a 13-0 win over Swanville.

Wabasso (19-6) is seeded fifth in Class 1A and faces fourth-seeded Braham (22-2) on Tuesday. The Rabbits are in the state tournament for the first time since 2010.

Class 3A

Top-seeded Mankato East (20-4) is looking to become the first three-peat champion since the four-enrollment class began in 2016.

The last team to win a third consecutive title was New Life Academy, which won four straight championships from 2008-2011.

The Cougars lost to Big South Conference champion New Ulm 7-3 in the Section 2AAA tournament but bounced back to reach the state tourney by beating St. Peter 8-3 in an elimination game and then winning a pair of five-inning games over New Ulm in the championship round, 10-0 and 13-1.

Second-seeded Chisago Lakes (19-4) is on a nine-game winning streak, a stretch in which the Wildcats have outscored their opposition 55-15.

Class 4A

Forest Lake (22-1) is the number one seed in Class 4A and heads into the state tournament having won 14 straight since its lone loss of the season to Stillwater on April 23. The Rangers are in the tournament for the third time in four years.

Champlin Park is seeded second after dethroning defending Class 4A champion Rogers for the Section 5AAAA title and make its first trip to state.

In the news

While Champlin Park is making its first trip to the state tournament, that’s not the reason the team is in the news not only statewide, but around the country.

Attention has been on the Rebels because of a transgender pitcher who has been dominant with a 10-1 record on the year and earned run average of 0.88. The pitcher, who has identified as a female since age 9, was in the pitching circle for 14 shutout innings between last week’s Section 5AAAA semifinal and championship games.

According to the Minnesota Star Tribune, U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer last week used his official House Majority Whip social media X account to retweet a post naming the player.

He wrote above a post from Riley Gaines, a 12-time NCAA All-American swimmer who’s become one of the faces of the movement to ban transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports:

“Last night, a team of hardworking female athletes in Minnesota were denied a state title because our state’s ‘leaders’ refuse to stand up for reality, safety, and fairness, This insanity must end.”

The Gaines post includes a video showing the player pitching and her name.

Champlin Park is in the Anoka-Hennepin School District, which said in a statement that the pitcher is playing under rules set in 2015 by the Minnesota State High School League:

“Throughout the entire season, and as the Rebels advance to the state tournament, it is important to note that all of the student athletes participating for the Champlin Park softball team are eligible to compete in compliance with Minnesota State High School League rules and applicable state law," the statement read.

Various media reports have indicated that three metro-area high school softball players sued Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and other state leaders last month in an effort to remove transgender athletes from competing in their sport.

The schedules

Here are the tournament schedules for each class.

Class 1A

Tuesday, June 3
At Caswell Park, North Mankato
Quarterfinals
No. 1 United South Central (23-1) vs. No. 8 Blackduck (22-3), 5:30 p.m., Field 1
No 4 Braham (22-2) vs. No. 5 Wabasso (19-6), 5:30 p.m., Field 2
No. 2 Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley (23-1) vs. No. 7 Bethlehem Academy (16-4), 5:30 p.m., Field 3
No. 3 Moose Lake/Willow River (18-6) vs. No. 6 Badger/Greenbush-Middle River (19-6), 5:30 p.m., Field 4

Wednesday, June 4
At Caswell Park, North Mankato
Semifinals
Upper bracket winners, 4:30 p.m., Field 3
Lower bracket winners, 4:30 p.m., Field 4
Consolation semifinals
Upper bracket losers, 11:30 a.m., Field 3
Lower bracket losers, 11:30 a.m., Field 4

Thursday, June 5
At Caswell Park, North Mankato
Third place
Semifinal losers, 1:30 p.m., Field 4
Consolation championship
Consolation semifinal winners, 11:30 a.m., Field 4

Friday, June 6
At Jane Sage Cowells Stadium
Championship
Semifinal winners, 6:30 p.m.

Class 2A

Tuesday, June 3
At Caswell Park, North Mankato
Quarterfinals
All games at 3 p.m.
Upper bracket
No. 1 Randolph (23-1) vs. No. 8 Esko (17-8), 3 p.m., Field 1
No. 4 St. Cloud Cathedral (23-2) vs. No. 5 Spectrum (20-0), 3 p.m., Field 2
Lower bracket
No. 2 Saint Agnes (22-2) vs. No. 7 Jackson County Central (22-4), 3 p.m., Field 3
No. 3 Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial (23-2) vs. No. 6 Hawley (25-2), 3 p.m., Field 4

Wednesday, June 4
At Caswell Park, North Mankato
Semifinals
Both games at 4:30 p.m.
Upper bracket winners, Field 1
Lower bracket winners, Field 2
Consolation semifinals
Upper bracket losers, 11:30 a.m., Field 1
Lower bracket losers, 11:30 a.m., Field 2

Thursday, June 5
At Caswell Park, North Mankato
Third place
Semifinal losers on Field 3, p.m.
Consolation championship
Consolation semifinal winners on Field 3, 11 a.m.

Friday, June 6
At Jane Sage Cowells Stadium
Championship
Semifinal winners, 4 p.m.

Class 3A
Tuesday, June 3
At Caswell Park, North Mankato
Quarterfinals
No. 1 Mankato East (20-4) vs. No. 8 Simley (14-10), 12:30 p.m., Field 1
No. 4 Becker (16-9) vs. No. 5 Rocori (17-5), 12:30 p.m., Field 2
No. 2 Chisago Lakes (19-4) vs. No. 7 Benilde-St. Margaret’s (12-12), 12:30 p.m., Field 3
No. 3 Cretin-Derham Hall (13-11) vs. No. 6 Byron (15-6), 12:30 p.m., Field 4

Wednesday, June 4
At Caswell Park, North Mankato
Semifinals
Upper bracket winners, 2 p.m., Field 3
Lower bracket winners, 2 p.m., Field 4
Consolation semifinals
Upper bracket losers, 9 a.m., Field 3
Lower bracket losers, 9 a.m., Field 4

Thursday, June 5
At Caswell Park, North Mankato
Third place
Semifinal losers, 12:30 p.m., Field 2
Consolation championship
Consolation semifinal winners, 10:30 a.m., Field 2

Friday, June 6
At Jane Sage Cowells Stadium
Championship
Semifinal winners, 11:30 a.m.

Class 4A

Tuesday, June 3
At Caswell Park, North Mankato
Quarterfinals
No. 1 Forest Lake (22-1) vs. No. 8 Edina (15-9), 10 a.m., Field 1
No. 4 Bloomington Jefferson (23-2) vs. No. 5 Brainerd (17-6), 10 a.m., Field 2
No. 2 Champlin Park (21-2) vs. Eagan (15-8), 10 a.m., Field 3
No. 3 Farmington (22-2) vs. No. 6 White Bear Lake Area (18-6), 10 a.m., Field 4

Wednesday, June 4
At Caswell Park, North Mankato
Semifinals
Upper bracket winners, 2 p.m., Field 1
Lower bracket winners, 2 p.m., Field 2
Consolation semifinals
Upper bracket losers, 12 p.m., Field 1
Lower bracket losers, 12 p.m., Field 2

Thursday, June 5
At Caswell Park, North Mankato
Third place
Semifinal losers, 10 a.m., Field 1
Consolation championship
Consolation semifinal winners, 12 p.m., Field 1

Friday, June 6
At Jane Sage Cowells Stadium
Championship
Semifinal winners, 9 a.m.

Umpires

Four umpires who work games in the area on a regular basis will be umping at the state tournament:

• Tom Bromeland, Blue Earth

• Matt Prunty, Welcome

• Greg Rossow, North Mankato

• Jeff Sudenga, Luverne

Rossow, a Windom native, was one of the umpires for the six hours and 22 innings Jackson County Central and Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta played in the Section 3AA finals in Marshall.

State softball tournament champions

• 1977: Coon Rapids (21-1)

• 1978: Cambridge (21-2)

• 1979: A-Wadena (14-2); AA-Rosemount (20-2)

• 1980: A-Jordan (23-0); AA-Austin (22-0)

• 1981: A-Moose Lake/Barnum (19-0); AA-Austin (24-0)

• 1982: A-Moose Lake (22-0); AA-Henry Sibley (19-2)

• 1983: A-LaCrescent (18-3); AA-Hill-Murray (23-1)

• 1984: A-Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s (15-2); AA-North St. Paul (22-2)

• 1985: A-St. Bernard’s (23-4); AA-Robbinsdale Cooper (17-5)

• 1986: A-St, Bernard’s (23-1); AA-Mankato East (25-0)

• 1987: A-Glencoe (23-1); AA-Austin (21-7)

• 1988: A-Southland (24-0); AA-Mankato East (24-1)

• 1989: A-St. Bernard’s (26-1); AA-Mankato East (24-2)

• 1990: A-St. Bernard’s (28-0); AA-Mankato West (24-4)

• 1991: A-Hermantown (24-3); AA-Mankato East (23-2)

• 1992: A-Maple River (28-0); AA-Richfield (22-6)

• 1993: A-New Ulm Cathedral (28-1); AA-Park (22-2)

• 1994: A-New Ulm Cathedral (27-1); AA-St. Cloud Tech (20-7)

• 1995: A-New Ulm Cathedral (30-1); AA-Stillwater (25-2)

• 1996: A-Maple River (26-0); AA-Stillwater (27-0)

• 1997: A-Mound Westonka (24-2); AA-Hopkins (25-2)

• 1998: A-Esko (25-3); AA-Stillwater (22-4)

• 1999: A-Wabasso (21-2); AA-Minnetonka (22-5)

• 2000: A-St. Bernard’s (18-9); AA-Holy Angels (18-9); AAA-Minnetonka (23-2)

• 2001: A-Mankato Loyola (23-4); AA-Maple River (26-2); AAA-Robbinsdale Armstrong (24-5)

• 2002: A-St. Bernard’s (22-4); AA-Hermantown (25-3);AAA-Eden Prairie (21-6)

• 2003: A-New Ulm Cathedral (25-3); AA-Winona Cotter (26-2); AAA-Eastview (26-4)

• 2004: A-St. Bernard’s (24-5);AA-Jackson County Central (26-2); AAA-Burnsville (20-5)

• 2005: A-New Ulm Cathedral (25-2); AA-Jackson County Central (25-2); AAA-Burnsville (21-3)

• 2006: A-Springfield (22-6); AA-Winona Cotter (25-3); AAA-Rosemount (26-1)

• 2007: A-New Ulm Cathedral (28-1); AA-Pipestone (26-3); AAA-North St. Paul (24-5)

• 2008: A-New Life Academy (21-6); AA-Orono (28-1); AAA-Eagan (21-2)

• 2009: A-New Life Academy (22-6); AA-Hermantown (27-3); AAA-Elk River (23-6)

• 2010: A-New Life Academy (22-1); AA-Park Center (24-6); AAA-Burnsville (23-3)

• 2011: A-New Life Academy (24-4); AA-Park Center (26-4); AAA-Hastings (23-2)

• 2012: A-Cherry (26-0); AA-New Ulm (23-2); AAA-Stillwater Area (21-8)

• 2013: A-Blooming Prairie (23-3); AA-New Ulm (25-3); AAA-Elk River (21-3)

• 2014: A-New Ulm Cathedral (26-1); AA-Kasson-Mantorville (28-0); AAA-Lakeville South (22-5)

• 2015: A-New Life Academy (23-3); AA-Kasson-Mantorville (26-2); AAA-Eastview (24-3)

• 2016: A-Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian (20-7); AA-Zumbrota-Mazeppa (26-1); AAA-Mankato West (26-1); AAAA-Chanhassen (24-3)

• 2017: A-New York Mills (25-2); AA-Zumbrota-Mazeppa (24-6); AAA-Winona (24-3); AAAA-Farmington (24-3)

• 2018: A-New York Mills (27-1); AA-Maple Lake (28-1); AAA-Faribault (23-2); AAAA-Stillwater Area (16-13)

• 2019: A-Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian (20-5); AA-Rochester Lourdes (25-3); AAA-Northfield (21-3); AAAA-Maple Grove (25-2)

• 2020: No tournament

• 2021: A-Randolph (27-0); AA-LeSueur-Henderson (24-1); AAA-Becker (20-6); AAAA-Rosemount (24-1)

• 2022: A-Nicollet (24-2); AA-Chatfield (28-2); AAA-Mankato West (23-4); AAAA-Forest Lake (22-5)

• 2023: A-Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian (19-6); AA-Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton (26-2); Mankato East (26-3); AAAA-Rosemount (26-0)

• 2024: A-New Ulm Cathedral (25-2); AA-Randolph (27-1); AAA-Mankato East (20-6); AAAA-Rogers (22-3)