Senior catcher Madison Malecha belted a two-run single in the top of the seventh inning to lift No. 1-seeded Lakeville North past No. 3 seed Rosemount 3-2 in a Class 3A, Section 3 elimination game matchup on Wednesday at Richfield Middle School. 

“I have confidence in myself, and I knew I owed it to my team to get the W,” Malecha said. 

In the top of the seventh, Lakeville North had runners in scoring position with one out. Panthers coach Sean Hall said he knew that with Malecha at the plate they had a good chance to tie or take the lead.   

Malecha proved her coach right by sending a blast into the outfield that brought both runners home. It was Malecha's second hit, and it gave the Panthers their first lead. 

Despite losing the lead the Irish were in position to answer back as Anna Hinderaker reached first base on a walk with only one out. Nina Kayfes tried advancing Hinderaker by laying down a bunt but struck out.  

Lakeville North senior pitcher Michaela Zins forced an Irish pop out to end the game.

Zins said the game was a nerve-racking experience, but she knew they could come back because her teammates are relentless – starting with Malecha. 

“There was nobody else I would want at the plate in that moment,” Zins said. “I had no doubt in my mind that she was going to come up with a big hit for us.” 

Zins finished with five strikeouts and allowed two earned runs. Hall said Zins did a great job keeping Rosemount at bay by making the big pitches when she had to after the two-second inning Irish runs. 

Rosemount’s early runs came from back-to-back batters as junior Anna Hinderaker connected on a RBI single. Sophomore Nina Kayfes followed with an RBI single. 

Irish head coach Tiffany Rose said the early lead brought confidence to her girls. 

“Zins is a really good pitcher, and she throws pretty hard so it was good to get that lead to know that we could score runs … even in the seventh,” Rose said. 

Rose said her girls played hard and they had a couple of diving attempts in the outfield that didn’t go their way. 

As a result of the win, the No. 2-ranked Panthers advance to Friday's championship game against No. 2 seed Bloomington Jefferson in a 3 p.m. start at Richfield Middle School.

Senior catcher Madison Malecha belted a two-run single to lift the No. 1-seeded Lakeville North past No. 3 seed Rosemount 3-2 in a Class 3A, Section 3 elimination game matchup at Richfield Middle School.

The No. 2-ranked Panthers advance to Friday's championship game against No. 2 seed Bloomington Jefferson in a 3 p.m. start at Richfield Middle School. 

Lakeville North had runners on second and first in the top of the seventh when Malecha sent a blast into the outfield that brought both runners home. It was Malecha's second hit and it gave the Panthers their first lead. 

The Panthers held the lead in the bottom of the seventh despite Rosemount's Anna Hinderaker reaching first base on a walk with only one out. Lakeville North senior pitcher Michaela Zins struck out the next batter and forced an Irish pop out to end the game. 

Zins finished with five strikeouts and two earned runs. Both runs came in the second inning from back to back batters. Rosemount junior Anna Hinderaker connected on a RBI single. Sophomore Nina Kayfes followed with an RBI single. Zins forced a pop fly to get out of the inning. 

Neither team scored again until Malecha's game winning single.

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