Squirrels back on top at ND Class B state softball tourney

DICKINSON, N.D. – For the past four years, Central Cass has had its hand in the decision of the North Dakota Class B state softball championship.
The runners-up in 2012 and 2014 and the victors in 2013, the Squirrels broke through again in an odd year to claim 2015’s title Saturday with a 3-2 come-from-behind win against Grafton at Gress Softball Complex.
“It was pure joy to see my catcher running at me with her eyes huge,” Central Cass senior pitcher Sierra Amundson said. “It’s an emotion you can’t explain.”
Every year the Squirrels find the ability to shine at the state tournament and it could be simply a matter of head coach Scott Kost bringing out the best in his players over the past four years.
Or maybe it’s a little of both. Nonetheless, the leadership of eight seniors – seven in his starting lineup – couldn’t have hurt this season.
“They are an incredible group of kids,” Kost said. “They’re not only good athletes, but they’re good in the classroom and good in the community. I cannot say enough about them. They will be deeply missed.”
The seniors, and the rest of the roster, made their last time out one to remember.
Senior shortstop Mercedes Sweep supplied a two-out, two-run double to left field to tie the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning.
“At this point, it’s just do or die,” said Sweep. “We just had to put the ball on the bat. If you can help your pitcher out at all, it’s by playing good defense and getting a few hits.”
It was Mercedes’ freshman sister, Madison, who provided the game-winner as she reached on a shortstop error in the bottom of the sixth, which allowed senior Jaden Spooner to score from second.
“It was just a couple of close calls,” Grafton head coach Cindy Holt said. “(Central Cass) is a great team, and they made the right plays. I’m so proud of how our team played this weekend.”
After finishing fifth in 2013 and third in 2014, Grafton’s second-place finish this year stands as the program’s best.
Mercedes Sweep’s double in the fifth was just the Squirrels’ second hit of the game, a tribute to the game Grafton’s Megan Osowski tossed on the other side.
Osowski struck out seven and walked three while giving up three runs (two earned) to cap a dazzling weekend for the junior.
“We’ve got a very good offensive team, and Megan held us to three runs, and we had to scratch the one out at the end,” Kost said. “She did a fantastic job. We struggled a little bit offensively, so I credit their pitcher.”
G 001 010 0–2 6 3
CC 000 021 0–3 4 1
Megan Osowski and Emma Pappenfuss. Sierra Amundson and Jessie Roesler. W-Amundson. L-Osowski.
Third place
Kindred-Richland 17, Hankinson-Fairmont-Lingerwood 3 (5 innings)
The Pirates saw a 3-1 lead slip away in heartbreaking fashion Saturday as Kindred-Richland piled on seven runs in the third inning and nine runs in the fourth inning to put the game away early.
Eight players in the Vikings’ lineup scored two runs each, including Bailey Jo Dougherty, who hit a fourth-inning home run.
Gretta Klinnert had seven strikeouts in the victory.
HFL 210 000 000 – 3 8 1
KR 107 900 000– 17 9 2
Terri Loll and Elizabeth Asp. Gretta Klinnert and Madison Johnson.
W–Klinnert. L–Loll. HR–Kindred-Richland: Dougherty. HFL: None.
Fifth place
Westhope-Newburg-Bottineau 10, Kenmore-Bowbells-MLS 1
K-B-MLS 000 010 000 – 1 2 3
WNB 002 440 000 – 0 0 0
Emily Abernathy and Justice Brown. Samantha Colman and Molly Lodoen.
W–Colman. L–Abernathy. HR–None.
Seventh place
Stanley 9, Watford City 8
Watford City 143 000 000 – 8 1 1
Stanley 230 220 000 – 9 2 3
Kamryn Grimes and Avery Sundeen. Abby Iverson, Rebekah Taylor and Brianna Holland.
W–Taylor. L–Grimes. HR–None.