SOFTBALL

Champlin Park ousts Park Center

CLASS 3A

• SECTION 5: Park Center appeared to making the adjustment to Class 3A just fine. That was until Tuesday. The defending Class 2A state champion was eliminated by Champlin Park 2-1 in eight innings in the quarterfinals at Rice Creek Park in Shoreview.

Senior Kristen Ackerman singled home the winning run for the seventh-seeded Rebels (15-7) in the eighth inning with her third hit of the day. Teammate Gabby Paulsrud went 2-for-3, including a triple, and drove in the other run. Winning pitcher Katie Herron struck out 11 in a complete game.

Second-seeded Park Center, which finished 16-5, was bumped up to Class 3A prior to the start of the school year. It split with Champlin Park during the regular season, winning 3-1 and losing 6-5.

• SECTION 4: Rachel Rhode pitched a two-hit shutout and struck out 10 as Stillwater eliminated East Ridge 7-0 in the quarterfinals.

• SECTION 6: Senior Morgan Nybo pitched a three-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts, leading Hopkins to a 2-0 victory over Richfield in the quarterfinals. The Royals (12-8) are the No. 2 seed, behind Wayzata.

CLASS 2A

• SECTION 4: Freshman Lauren Debertin's base hit with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning scored Sarah Leach with the winning as Visitation advanced to the final with a 4-3 victory over St. Paul Academy ... In the other semifinal matchup, senior Becca Bates pitched a two-hit shutout, leading St. Anthony to a 10-0 victory over St. Croix Lutheran. Senior Sarah Birnbaum had two hits and two RBI to pace the offense.

CLASS 1A

• SECTION 4: Unranked New Life Academy kept its hopes alive for a fifth consecutive state championship, cruising past Legacy Christian 9-1 in the semifinals. Sophomore Amanda Heidmann went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI. New Life Academy (14-7) will meet Minneapolis Washburn in the final. The Millers outscored Legacy Christian 15-11.

STAFF REPORTS