Class A state softball quarterfinal roundup: No. 8 Elk Point-Jefferson downs No. 1 Madison in opener
· Yahoo Sports
Jun. 4—ABERDEEN — Eighth-seeded Elk Point-Jefferson knocked off No. 1 Madison on Thursday in the Class A state high school softball quarterfinals by a score of 3-1 at the Players Softball Complex.
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EPJ (10-6) will play West Central in Friday's state semifinal round at 2 p.m. The game was a rematch of a May 19 game in Elk Point, which Madison won 11-10. This time, the lower-scoring showdown was in the Huskies' favor, neutralizing a Madison offense that averaged 12.7 runs per game entering the state tournament.
EPJ took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Molly Geary scored from second base on a Bailey Johnson ground ball that Madison fumbled for an error. The Bulldogs got the run back in the bottom half of the frame when Kelcie Dudley had an RBI single.
The Huskies took the lead for good in the top of the third inning, with Cera Schmitz picking up a two-out RBI single to score Geary for a 2-1 lead. After a fielder's choice that didn't end the inning and a walk, Schmitz was able to score on a passed ball to give EPJ a 3-1 lead.
The Huskies' Regan Rasmussen started in the circle and kept the Madison offense in check, allowing three hits and one unearned run with seven strikeouts and one walk for the win. Schmitz finished with two of EPJ's three hits, including a triple, and Rasmussen added a single.
Madison got two runners on in the fourth and a runner to second base in the fifth but couldn't cash in any of the chances, and Rasmussen retired the final seven Bulldog batters in a row.
For Madison (14-3), Aubri Tobkin started pitching and took the loss, throwing 4 1/3 innings and allowing two hits and three unearned runs, with three walks and six strikeouts. Dudley threw the final 2 2/3 scoreless innings for Madison, allowing one hit and striking out two. Dudley had two hits to lead the Bulldogs' offense, while Evie Lurz had a double.
ABERDEEN — No. 4 West Central found the key hits in the sixth inning on Thursday to get past No. 5 Beresford for a Class A state quarterfinal round victory.
In the sixth inning, West Central's Sophie Rolfson had a bunt single that was misplayed attempting to get the out at first base, allowing Teagan Lupkes to score from second base on the play. Moments later, Briauna Hoff had an RBI single to left field to score Rolfson and double the Trojans' lead to 2-0. The Trojans advance to face No. 8 Elk Point-Jefferson at 2 p.m. Friday in the state semifinal round.
Beresford (16-9) saw a golden chance to take the lead slip by in the top of the sixth inning, getting a leadoff double from Ivy Keiser and then a single from Rylie Laurvick. The Watchdogs loaded the bases, but a lineout double play at third ended the threat without a run. Beresford also left multiple runners on base in the second and fourth innings.
Linzie Hoff picked up the win pitching for West Central, allowing four hits and striking out nine with three walks on 115 pitches. Beresford's Brynlee Mohning was the hard-luck loser, allowing seven hits and two runs (one earned) in six innings.
West Central's Maddy Kunzweiler and Stella Siemonsma each had two hits, including a double for each.
ABERDEEN — Second-seeded Tri-Valley fell into a 4-0 hole in the first inning and a half and then promptly scored 13 unanswered runs for a Class A state softball quarterfinal win Thursday at the Players Complex.
The Orioles (8-6) led 4-0 thanks to two RBIs from Hailey Seelen before the Mustangs charged back with three runs in the second, four in the third and three more in the fourth inning to control the game. The Mustangs (18-2) will face Dakota Valley in the 4 p.m. Class A semifinal on Friday.
Tri-Valley No. 9 hitter Isabella Wetmore-Ocampo had three hits, two stolen bases, drove in four runs and was joined by No. 8 hitter Haleigh Wallenstein with four RBIs, two hits and two runs scored. Ava Christensen scored four times and added two hits for the Mustangs, who finished with an 11-7 edge in the hits column, while Lennox committed five errors.
Kadence Davey was the winning pitcher in relief for Tri-Valley, throwing 5 1/3 innings and allowing three hits without a run and striking out five. She replaced Emry Jones, who threw 1 2/3 innings and allowed four runs (one earned) and four hits. The Orioles' Layci Eli took the loss pitching, allowing eight hits, nine runs (seven earned) in 3 2/3 innings.
ABERDEEN — Dakota Valley's Emma Barnett spun her way to 11 strikeouts in a complete-game effort to power third-seeded Panthers to a win over No. 6 Sioux Valley in the Class A state softball quarterfinals on Thursday at the Players Complex.
Barnett threw 104 pitches and allowed four hits, one walk and two runs (one earned). Dakota Valley (13-4) will play Tri-Valley at 4 p.m. Friday in the semifinal round.
Offensively, Dakota Valley's Madie Munch had two hits and two RBIs, with two hits from Payten Konopasek, and Mia Riibe had a triple. The game was scoreless until Dakota Valley scored four times in the third inning and added two more in the fourth for a 6-0 lead.
The Cossacks' Abby Axtell threw 3 1/3 innings in a start, taking the loss, allowing six hits and six runs (one earned) and striking out two. McKinley Schwab threw 2 2/3 innings in relief with two hits and one run allowed. Amelia Jacobson had two of Sioux Valley's four hits for the Cossacks (21-5), while McKinley Schwab had an RBI.