After winning four straight state championships, the Central Cass Squirrels softball team will miss the class B state tournament for the first time ever. The Hillsboro Central Valley Burros defeated the Squirrels 5-3 in the state qualifier game on Tuesday.
“At the beginning of the season, we didn't know we could do that,” said Ellie Vice, a senior infielder for the H-CV softball team. “Now that we know we can, we feel unbeatable.”
From just two wins last season, to defeating the four time state champions, you can say the Burros are on cloud nine.
“Everybody started cheering and jumping, I fell to the ground because I couldn't feel my legs and I started crying,” said Serrina Klose, a senior for the Burros.
“It was just a new feeling for a lot of us that we could do this and prove this to people that we are who we are,” Ellie said.
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With 12 more wins this season, their record is drastically different from last year. But their roster? That's virtually the same.
“It's been an attitude shift, honestly,” said Cory Erickson, the H-CV head coach. “The girls lost so much last year. There were glimpses of the team that we could be. Now, this year everything has kind of come together. The girls don't want to feel that feeling of losing again.”
The Burros are headed back to the big stage for the first time since 2019. For 21 girls, it will be their first taste of state tournament play.
“I’m a little nervous because I haven't been there in my career,” said Kailee Kittelson, a Burros sophomore infielder. “I don't know what to expect, but (the coaches) just have so much confidence in us, so that just raises our confidence too.”
“We've beaten probably four of the teams that are going to state this year,” Cory said. “Why not just see where we end up while playing our best. Considering the year that we had last year, everything from here on out is just gravy.”
The softball class B state tournament starts next Thursday in Minot.
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