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Class 4A, Section 4 championship: White Bear Lake's two-decade wait is over

By Mark Hvidsten, SportsEngine, 06/02/22, 8:00PM CDT

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The Bears defeated longtime rival Stillwater in second two section title games to reach the state tournament for the first time since 2002.

White Bear Lake pitcher Chloe Barber, middle, celebrates with teammates Annika Olsen, left, and Heidi Barber after making the out that ended the game and gave the Bears the Class 4A, Section 4 championship. Photo by Mark Hvidsten, SportsEngine

White Bear Lake pitcher Chloe Barber, middle, celebrates with teammates Annika Olsen, left, and Heidi Barber after making the out that ended the game and gave the Bears the Class 4A, Section 4 championship. Photo by Mark Hvidsten, SportsEngine

Game 2

White Bear Lake had waited 20 years for its next softball state tournament appearance and, needing just one win in two games against Stillwater on Thursday to clinch the Class 4A, Section 4 championship and that elusive state bid, Bears players had prepared a prop to celebrate their anticipated long-awaited achievement. 

Many times over 16 hard-played innings, it seemed that creating and printing that lottery check-sized ticket to next week's state tournament in North Mankato for a celebratory selfie was a solid and forward-thinking idea. And just as many times over those 16 grueling innings, it seemed that printing that lottery check-sized selfie prop was simply presumptuous.


Junior Chloe Barber pitched 16 innings over two games, striking out 19, for White Bear Lake. Photo by Mark Hvidsten, SportsEngine

Game 1


Stillwater pitcher Keira Murphy (7) bats a ball foul down the third-base line late in Game 2. Murphy pitched 16 innings over two games and struck out 11 batters. Photo by Mark Hvidsten, SportsEngine

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