Eastview senior pitcher Kerrigan Hoshaw threw a complete game shutout in the Class 3A, Section 3 championship game, but it was her battery mate - freshman catcher Abby Lien - who had the performance that made the biggest impact.

Lien snuffed out Rosemount's best scoring change to help the top-seeded Lightning defeated the third-seeded Irish 1-0 on Saturday at Richfield Middle School to wrap up the section title and send Eastview to just its second state tournament.

In the top of the fourth inning, the Irish had a chance to break a scoreless tie with senior designated player Madi Van Sickle on second and junior first baseman Kennedy Rieck at the plate.

Rieck hit a single to center field and the Rosemount coaches waved home Van Sickle, who seemed to have the advantage. However, a terrific throw from Eastview senior center fielder Courtney Wissbaum put Lien in position to make a fantastic tag and erase the scoring chance. 

Hoshaw, who backed up Lien during the play at the plate, said she was nervous during the whole sequence.

“At that moment I was like, ‘Oh god, here we go, oh shoot,’ and all of a sudden I saw the throw and I was behind (Lien), and I was like, ‘Okay we got this,’ and she tagged her,” Hoshaw said. “That was an amazing throw…I’m glad (Wissbaum is) in my outfield.”

The Lightning faced a similar situation in the bottom of the inning, but came out of it with the lead.

Eastview junior second baseman Jamie Reynolds blasted a line drive to left field with junior pinch runner Sydney Dose on second. As Dose rounded third, Irish freshman left fielder Danielle Sorenson came up throwing. Her heave was on time but high and caused junior catcher Vanessa Dougherty to jump to make the catch, allowing Dose to safely slide across home plate. 

Reynolds said she was uncertain if Dose scored. 

“I honestly didn’t know until after the end of the play with the scoreboard,” Reynolds said. “I heard the cheering, so I assumed, but I wasn’t sure.” 

The Lightning (21-3), ranked No. 4 in Class 3A coaches poll, in entered the game against the No. 10-3A Irish (16-9) allowing only 1.33 runs per game in the section tournament, and Eastview coach Trevor Monroe said his team’s defense is unmatched in Minnesota.

“I truly feel we’re the best defensive team in the state,” Monroe said. “The last two years, I’ve said we’ve had the fastest outfield in the state.” 

The fielders also got assistance from Hoshaw, arguably one of the best pitchers in the state.

Hoshaw, who earned all-conference and all-section honors and was named to the Class 3A All-State Second Team last season, allowed just three hits and finished with six strikeouts and one walk in seven innings.

She’s committed to the University of Sioux Falls (S.D.), a Division II program that finished no higher than eighth in every major pitching category in its conference. 

Monroe referenced Minnesota Twins outfielder Kirby Puckett and the 1987 World Series when describing Hoshaw’s performance. 

“We had 15 girls hop on her back,” Monroe said. “We knew we needed to give her a run, you have to score one run to win, we knew we needed to give her some support.” 

Run support doesn’t come easy when the opposing pitcher is sophomore Gabby Sprang. The Irish left-hander also pitched a complete game, giving up one run and six hits while walking three walks and striking out three. The University of Tennessee commit has been part of Rosemount’s varsity roster since seventh grade.

Hoshaw said Sprang doesn’t show any signs of weakness.  

“I can’t say anything bad about her. She’s strong, she doesn’t let much get to her and she’s been a competitor,” Hoshaw said.

The Lightning defeated the Irish 4-1 in the section semifinals on Wednesday, marked Monroe’s first victory over the Irish in his three years as Eastview’s coach. 

Before being hired as the Lightning’s coach, Monroe was the head baseball coach at Rosemount from 2005-2009. In 2008, his Irish defeated Eastview in the Class 3A, Section 3 final to punch a ticket to the state tournament and he now has his Lightning team making a trip to the softball state tournament.

In 2003, the Lightning appeared in their first state tournament, winning the Class 3A title. 

Eastview can't afford to look ahead if it wants to match the success of its predecessor, Monroe said.

“We just take it one pitch, one inning and one game at a time,” Monroe added. 

And maybe one play at the plate somewhere along the way.

Senior pitcher Kerrigan Hoshaw’s complete game shutout sent No. 1 seed Eastview to the state tournament following the Lightning’s 1-0 victory over No. 3 seed Rosemount in the Class 3A, Section 3 championship game Saturday afternoon at Richfield Middle School. 

Aside from allowing three hits, Hoshaw struck out six and walked one. Her counterpart, sophomore Gabby Sprang, allowed one run and six hits while finishing with three strikeouts and three walks.

Eastview (21-3), ranked No. 4 in Class 3A coaches poll, scored the game's lone run in the bottom of the fourth inning when junior second baseman Jamie Reynolds laced a ball to left field.

Lightning junior pinch runner Sydney Dose was rounding third when Irish freshman left fielder Danielle Sorenson unleashed a wicked throw that made junior catcher Vanessa Dougherty jump for the catch. Dose narrowly beat the tag from Dougherty.

Eastview recorded a 4-1 victory over No. 10-3A Rosemount (16-9) in the section semifinals on Wednesday. 

The Lightning seek to win their second Class 3A state championship when the tournament kicks off June 4 at Caswell Park in North Mankato. Eastview won its first title in 2003.

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