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Minneapolis Southwest tops Minneapolis South in five-inning affair

By Mark Hvidesten, SportsEngine, 05/19/21, 7:00PM CDT

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Kal Harris tallied 12 strikeouts for the Lakers, who have a chance to clinch the Minneapolis City Conference title on Thursday.


Minneapolis Southwest players gathered at the pitching circle to help Kal Harris celebrate their 100th strikeout of the season. Harris struck out 12 in the Lakers' 6-0 victory over Minneapolis South. Photo by Mark Hvidsten, SportsEngine

Brynn Hostettler. Sydney Schwartz. Taylor Hess. Annie Volkers. Tibby Stewart. Jessa Snippes. Strong-armed pitchers all, and all well-known within Minnesota high school softball.

Go ahead and add Kal Harris to that list. The Minneapolis Southwest senior struck out 12 batters in a rain-shortened, five-inning 6-0 victory over Minneapolis South on Wednesday at Bossen Field and reached 100 strikeouts in a season for the second time.

Harris struck out seven of the first nine batters they faced to reach the milestone. Harris has 105 strikeouts for the season and their name is right there with Hostettler, Schwartz and company among the state’s leaders, currently tied for 11th.

“I guess now my goal will be 150,” Harris said after a short-but-hard rainfall ended the game prematurely.


Kal Harris didn't need a lot of help from their infield, but when they did they got plays like a diving catch of an infield popup by third baseman Megan Smith. Photo by Mark Hvidsten, SportsEngine

First Report

Wednesday’s game at Bossen Field was all about Minneapolis Southwest senior Kal Harris, who struck out seven of the first nine batters they faced to reach the 100-strikeout milestone for the second time in their high school career. Harris led the Lakers to a 6-0 five-inning victory over Minneapolis South.

Well, almost all about Harris. The victory, which came to an unceremonious end with a short but heavy rainfall at the start of the sixth inning, left Southwest in a strong position to win the Minneapolis City Conference.

South (4-4, 4-2) won the league title in 2017, 2018 and 2019. The 2020 season was canceled.

The Lakers (9-5, 5-0) can clinch the conference title Thursday with a victory over Minneapolis Washburn (3-7, 3-2). With a loss to Washburn, South will have a chance to take the title away from the Lakers by beating them in a regular-season finale on May 25.

Harris finished the game with 12 strikeouts, giving them 105 for the season. As a sophomore, they hit the 100-strikeout milestone in the Class 4A, Section 6 playoffs.

Hazel Hanson and Evelyn Jastrow hit two-run singles in a four-run second inning, giving Harris and the Lakers the runs they needed. Ginny Harris hit a solo home run in the third.

South pitcher Vivian Bell went five innings, striking out three but walking six. Center fielder Marta Branden had a pair of singles for the Tigers.


Minneapolis South pitcher Vivian Bell went all five innings, striking out three. Photo by Mark Hvidsten, SportsEngine

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