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Kimball plates a run late to claim Class 1A, Section 4 title

By Mark Hvidsten, SportsEngine, 05/31/17, 5:45AM CDT

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The Cubs advance to the state tournament after defeating Mayer Lutheran 1-0.


Mackenzie Leither (10) celebrates after crossing the plate with the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh. Emily Utecht drove in Leither with a double to give Kimball a 1-0 victory over Mayer Lutheran. Photo by Mark Hvidsten, SportsEngine

Mackenzie Leither (10) celebrates after crossing the plate with the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh. Emily Utecht drove in Leither with a double to give Kimball a 1-0 victory over Mayer Lutheran. Photo by Mark Hvidsten, SportsEngine

Emily Utecht and Kimball have the first part of the script perfected. Now, after a second consecutive 1-0 victory in the Section 4, Class 1A softball championship, Utecht and the Cubs want to perfect the second half.

Utecht pitched a spotless seventh inning to preserve a scoreless tie and then, as the Cubs' third batter in the bottom of the inning, doubled home Mackenzie Leither with the winning run to beat Mayer Lutheran 1-0 Wednesday at Northwestern University in Roseville, advancing Kimball to the state tournament for the second year in a row.

In 2016, the Cubs lost two games at the state tournament in Mankato, despite Leither's state record-tying two home runs in a quarterfinal game.

"I think last year we were just happy to be [at the state tournament]," Utecht said. "This year we want to go out there and compete."

"Yeah," said Leither, whose one-out single in the bottom of the seventh was the Cubs' first hit and scene-setter for Utecht's game-winning hit. "We want to go out there and beat a couple of teams this year."

Kimball had to work hard for the opportunity. Mayer Lutheran pitcher Martina Saulsbury shut down the Cubs for most of the game, striking out nine batters, including six of seven in a stretch that spanned the second through fourth innings. Still, Leither said, she never doubted she and her teammates would produce in the end.

Saulsbury "was throwing very good. We were just seeing it better" in the later innings, Leither said. "We were making good contact and we knew the (hits) would eventually fall."

Saulsbury, who pitched a complete game and allowed just the two hits, nearly gave Mayer Lutheran a lead in the sixth. She singled with two outs, stole second and took third on a wild throw. Sophie Flucas followed with a walk, taking second uncontested to put runners on second and third. But Cubs shortstop Rachel Utecht snared a line drive off the bat of Mallory Kuntz to end the inning and the scoring threat.

Kimball advances to the state tournament with 19-3 record. Mayer Lutheran's season ends at 17-9.

First Report

Emily Utecht and Kimball have the first part of the script perfected. Now, after a second consecutive 1-0 victory in the Section 4, Class 1A softball championship, Utecht and the Cubs want to perfect the second half. 

Utecht pitched a spotless seventh inning to preserve a scoreless tie and then, as the Cubs' third batter in the bottom of the inning, doubled home Mackenzie Leither with the winning run to beat Mayer Lutheran 1-0 Wednesday at Northwestern University in Roseville, advancing Kimball to the state tournament for the second year in a row.

In 2016, the Cubs lost two games at the state tournament in Mankato, despite Leither's state record-tying two home runs in a quarterfinal game.

"I think last year we were just happy to be [at the state tournament]," Utecht said. "This year we want to go out there and compete."

"Yeah," said Leither, whose one-out single in the bottom of the seventh was the Cubs' first hit and scene-setter for Utecht's game-winning hit. "We want to go out there and beat a couple of teams this year."

Kimball had to work hard for the opportunity. Mayer Lutheran pitcher Martina Saulsbury shut down the Cubs for most of the game, striking out nine batters.

Saulsbury also singled, stole second and took third on a throwing error in the top of the sixth. Mallory Kuntz hit a ball to second but lost the race to first as Abbey Schiefelbein's throw beat her by a whisker.

Kimball advances to the state tournament with 19-3 record. Mayer Lutheran's season ends at 17-9.


Emily Utecht connects with a double in the bottom of the seventh that scored Mackenzie Leither with the game's only run and lifted Kimball into the state softball tournament. Photo by Mark Hvidsten, SportsEngine


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