Forum News Service Central Cass celebrates their defeat of Kindred-Richland for the North Dakota Class B Softball championship game Saturday, June 1, 2019, in Fargo.

FARGO (FNS) — The first hugs Central Cass senior pitcher Lexi Buhr gave after the Squirrels locked up their second straight North Dakota Class B state softball title Saturday were to fellow seniors MacKenzie McKinnon and Payton Richter.

“They’re my best friends,” Buhr said. “The feeling is indescribable. I’m really proud of this team. It’s the best way to end it.”

The three were playing in their sixth and final state tournament with the Central Cass softball team. They went out as champions, as the Squirrels topped Kindred-Richland 6-2 in the state championship game Saturday at Tharaldson Park.

For Central Cass, it was back-to-back titles and the fourth in the last six years for the Squirrels. The three seniors finished with three state titles.

“I’m really happy for the three seniors that we have leaving that this is the way they’re able to cap off their career,” Central Cass coach Scott Kost said. “I’m happy for the entire team. They’ve worked hard all year-round. They did what we as coaches asked them to do. I’m thrilled it was able to pay off this way.”

Buhr finished the tournament with five RBIs, two coming in the state championship game. She also picked up two wins in the circle to end her career 36-1 as a pitcher for the Squirrels. On Saturday, she gave up two runs in seven innings, retiring the final eight batters she faced.

“She’s been incredible,” Kost said. “When we give her the ball we tend to win.”

Kindred-Richland (14-11) had the first threat, putting runners on second and third base with no outs in the top of the second inning. The Vikings made it count, scoring two runs. Bren Koppang brought one home on a sacrifice fly and Tina Freier followed with an RBI single to make it 2-0.

Entering the game, Kindred-Richland and Central Cass owned the previous six state championships, with each team having three. The Vikings entered 2-0 against Central Cass and 3-0 overall in state championship games.

“They played hard and they fought,” Kindred-Richland coach Sam Brandt said. “Everybody gave everything they had and just didn’t go our way today.”

Central Cass opened the bottom of the third with a Richter walk and a Josie Buhr double. Isabelle Linnard followed with a two-run single to tie things up at 2-2.

“We remained calm because we figured we could get ourselves out of this,” Linnard said. “We had confidence in ourselves. We knew we had to go get runs back. It keeps the momentum and energy going to come right back and score those runs.”

The Squirrels (23-1) weren’t done.

One batter later, Lexi Buhr sent a towering shot off the fence in center field for an RBI double to put the Squirrels back up 3-2. She was looking for a single, when it hit the bat she was hoping for a homer, but she ended up driving in the go-ahead run either way.

“I think them going up on us gave us motivation to come and fight back,” Lexi Buhr said. “Being a pitcher, it gave me cushion in the circle and makes me feel more confident.”

Linnard opened the bottom of the fifth with a double. A grounder got the runner over to third and Lexi Buhr knocked in the run with a sacrifice fly.

“To win once is really awesome, but to do it two times in a row is just an immense feeling you can’t describe,” Linnard said.

Central Cass got three consecutive singles with two outs in the fifth to push the lead to 6-2. Rylie Holzer brought in a run with a single and another run scored from first when the ball got behind the outfielder.

That was more than enough for Lexi Buhr.

“They play together as a team,” Kost said. “We got contributions from all over the lineup. It’s not just one person that’s standing out. They come together as a team and that’s why they’re able to be state champions.”