Quantcast
skip navigation

Jefferson softball: Finest at the finish

By Brian Stensaas, Star Tribune, 06/07/11, 3:34PM CDT

Share

Hopkins bounces back to advance to third state tourney in four years


Bloomington Jefferson teammates greeted Nicole Tobon after she hit a solo homer in the 14th inning of Game 1 between Jefferson and Burnsville. Carlos Gonzalez, Star Tribune

High school softball is a bit notorious for pitchers' duels. Games scheduled for seven innings often go that distance and then some.

Or in the case of Class 3A, Section 3 – and then some eight times over.

Top-seed Burnsville and No. 2 Bloomington Jefferson battled for 15 innings last week in the tournament finals at Eagan High School. The Jaguars eventually broke through in a 2-1 victory that was thrilling and exhausting all in the same moment.

The victory put Jefferson into a true championship Game 2 scenario, only seven innings – supposedly – from reaching the state tournament for the first time.

But, ugh, seven more innings?

"It was a grind," Jaguars coach Penny Witzenburg said.

As the sun set through the trees and the concession stand ran out of every last bit of nourishment, several Bloomington parents joined together to have nine pizzas delivered to the field for anxious pro-Jaguars fans. Another carload of dads brought sacks of submarine sandwiches for the players.

All this, and another day was needed.

The teams battled to a 1-1 tie after seven innings before umpires suspended the game because of darkness. Twenty hours later, the game reconvened. It was over in less than 30 minutes.

Cassandra Santiago's bases-loaded single to center field broke the tie in the bottom of the eighth inning, sending Jefferson to state.

"We prepared to play one inning," Santiago said.

That's all it took. But it will be a different story this week in North Mankato. When Jefferson starts state play Thursday against Hastings, the Jaguars will face a veteran Raiders team in its fourth consecutive state tournament. Jefferson's team has no seniors.

Witzenburg has to prepare them for the frenetic, mile-a-minute atmosphere that is Caswell Park.

"This team has youthful exuberance," she said. "And this section is so tough. I wouldn't say we have an edge – because Hastings sure knows what it is all about. But we're ready. We've seen a lot of good teams.

"We've been knocking on the door and to break through is huge. I want them to show up down there jazzed up."

Royals get back

Hopkins advanced to its third state tournament in four years last week. But getting out of Class 3A, Section 6 was hardly a breeze.

After sending the top-seeded Royals into the loser's bracket via a 10-1 drubbing in the semifinals, Wayzata had Hopkins on the ropes in the championship game. The Trojans were ahead 1-0 in the fifth inning and loaded the bases. Two solid defensive plays, though, limited the output to only one more run.

The Royals then went to work, recording three of their four hits in the game in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 3-2 victory.

Hopkins then dominated 9-2 in Game 2.

"They just needed to relax and try not to force things," coach Anne Campbell said. "Swing at good pitches. And that's what they did."

Hopkins faces Shakopee in the first round of the state tournament on Thursday.

Related Stories