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Buffalo beats Rogers 3-2 to advance to Class 4A state tournament

By Jim Paulsen, Star Tribune, 06/03/16, 10:11PM CDT

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The Bison bounced back from a 16-2 loss to Rogers on Thursday by, scoring three runs in the first two innings on Friday.

Good thing the Buffalo softball players have a shorter memory than their coach.

Thursday, a big loss to Rogers in the Section 8, Class 4A playoffs forced a one-game, winner-take-all battle for the section title. The Bison bounced back with tenacity Friday, scoring three runs in the first two innings, and held on to beat the Royals 3-2 to advance to the Class 4A state tournament for the second year in a row.

Buffalo had lost to Rogers 16-2 one night earlier, setting up the championship game at Rogers. Buffalo coach Brad Zrust said he hoped going into the game that his team would be able to put that debacle behind them.

“We talked about that game and about them having a short memory,” Zrust said. “I was a little concerned about how we would respond, but give the girls a lot of credit. They apparently they have a shorter memory than I do.”

The Bison (21-4) were opportunistic early, talking advantage of a steady rain and some Rogers miscues in the first and second innings to scratch out three unearned runs off Rogers’ starter Melea Bruns.

Rogers managed a run in the bottom of the first, but sophomore pitcher Morgan DeMarias and an airtight Buffalo defense didn’t let the top-seeded Royals threaten again until the bottom of the seventh-and-final inning.

DeMarais tossed a complete game, scattering six hits and getting the game’s final out on a fly out to left with the potential tying and winning runs in scoring position.

She admitted to battling nerves in the final inning, but said it didn’t affect her approach on the rubber.

“It’s not about staying calm,” she said. “I was feeling a little bit nervous. It’s about keeping your composure and having confidence in yourself.”

It was the fifth meeting of the season between the two teams. Rogers (22-3) won three of them, but Buffalo won the game that mattered most.

“We know that team so well that it comes down to who makes errors and who gets timely hits,” said Rogers’ do-it-all pitcher/shortstop/leading hitter Katelyn Kemmetmueller, who entered in relief of Bruns and pitched five scoreless innings. “We made errors. They got timely hits. But I’m so proud of this team. We were down all game and we made it so close at the end. It’s a tough one.”

A second-straight state tournament appearance has the Bison thinking about going further than they did a year ago, when they lost twice.

“Last year, we had some jitters and we were just happy to be there,” DeMarais said. “Now, were going back and we’re going to get it all.”

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