Quantcast
skip navigation

New York Mills holds on at the end to repeat as 1A champions

By MATTHEW DAVIS, Special to the Star Tribune, 06/08/18, 12:00PM CDT

Share

In a rematch of last year's title game, the Eagles prevailed with a 9-6 victory over late-rallying Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian.


New York Mills players celebrate the second of their consecutive Class 1A state championships. Photo: Tim Kolehmainen, Breakdown Sports

New York Mills appeared to have back-to-back Class 1A state titles locked up with an 8-1 lead through four innings Friday.

Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian threatened to spoil it instead with a furious seventh-inning rally before falling 9-6 to the Eagles (28-1).

New York Mills senior pitcher Rhiana Roberts got encouragement in the seventh after the Flying Dutchmen put up five runs and had one out. A key blow was a three-run home run by sophomore right fielder Gabby Buckridge.

“Stay focused in the moment. Do what you’ve done for the last six years,” Eagles coach Bryan Dunrud recalled saying.

Roberts put away the Flying Dutchmen (20-4) with a strikeout and a pop fly to end it with her 89th career victory. The same teams played in last year’s championship game as well.

Flying Dutchmen coach Andrew Fleischman praised his team, saying, “We just have them keep battling. It was just a little too late.”

Eagles senior second baseman Kaitlyn Kane led New York Mills with three RBI and two runs scored. Roberts scored three runs.

MATTHEW DAVIS

First report

New York Mills looked to be cruising to a state title with an 8-1 lead through six innings Friday afternoon.

Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian had different plans against the defending state champions, though, delivering a furious rally in the seventh inning. But it fell short as the Eagles held on to win 9-6 for a second consecutive Class 1A state title at Caswell Park in North Mankato.

Check back later for more on the game.

Softball Hub Headlines