Cassie Bertelsen knows how to take the drama out of a close game.
With it scoreless in the third inning, the North St. Paul senior outfielder belted a grand slam, and the No. 2-ranked Polars were on their way to a 10-0 victory over Stillwater in the winners’ bracket of the double-elimination Class 3A, Section 4 tournament on Wednesday.
Two batters later, junior shortstop Jamie Rubbelke hit a two-run homer to give the Polars a 6-0 lead. Rubbelke put the game away in the fifth with her second two-run homer of the day.
The three blasts were more than enough run support for junior pitchers Carley Picket and Tabitha Bayers in the six-inning game called because of the 10-run rule.
Picket gave up one hit in four innings and Bayers struck out all six batters in the two innings she worked.