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DLB plays tough against top-ranked Beulah, falls 6-5

Sean Williams/MDN Zannah Bjerklie (5) of the Des Lacs-Burlington Lakers taking a swing during the 2023 NDHSAA Class B Softball State Tournament on Thursday afternoon.

Making their way back to the state tournament was the Des Lacs-Burlington Lakers softball team, as a state appearance has become very common for the program. On Thursday, they opened state tournament play at South Hill Softball Complex with a tall task at hand.

The Lakers matched up with the No.1-ranked team in the Beulah Miners, who gave the Lakers an 11-0 loss earlier in the year. In the postseason, though, anything can happen as it provides each team with a clean slate and a fresh start.

A clean slate it was, as the Lakers held the lead for most of the way until a late, multi-inning rally propelled the Miners to a 6-5 win as they advanced to the state semifinals.

Coming out of the gates swinging, the Lakers generated a ton of momentum by putting three runs on the board in the top of the first. All coming with two outs, Shaylie Holen drove in Kaelyn Bachmeier on a double, then Zannah Bjerklie hit a two-run, inside the park home run to make it a 3-0 ballgame.

Adding to their momentum, starting pitcher Sierra Yale shut the Miners down in the bottom of the first by facing the minimum and keeping the Lakers’ crowd on their feet to begin the contest.

Early noise made by the Lakers caused a pitching change for the Miners, as Taylor Christensen took over on the mound and was a difference maker. In the bottom of the third, Beulah got the bats going, as Ava Seibel hit a two-run double to trim their deficit to 3-2.

Not wanting to let the Miners gain all the momentum back, the Lakers responded by tacking on two more runs in the fourth. A walk by Yale and a Teegyn Anderson single made way for Logen Ystaas to drive in both on a double, extending the Lakers’ lead to 5-2.

From there, however, it was all Beulah, and they were guided by T. Christensen on the mound with her excellent performance in relief. In the bottom of the fifth, Cassidy Christensen walked and made it to third on two passed balls, then scored on a groundout. Brecken Bieber added an RBI single in the frame and all of a sudden, it was a one-run game at 5-4.

Taking the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth was Beulah, as Jayda Remboldt and T. Christensen singled, which led to a two-run double from Addison Dale-Geiger to bring the game to its final of 6-5 in favor of Beulah.

In six innings of relief, T. Christensen picked up the win and allowed two runs on two hits with one walk and 13 strikeouts. At the plate, she went 1-for-4 with an RBI as well.

Offensively, Beulah was led by Dale-Geiger who went 1-for-3 with a double, walk and two RBI, followed by Seibel who went 1-for-4 with a double and two RBI, and Beiber who went 1-for-2 with a walk and an RBI.

Yale put forth a good showing on the mound against a really tough team, even though she was dealt the loss. Yale went six innings, allowing six runs (four earned) on five hits with five walks and seven strikeouts.

At the plate, the Lakers were led by Bjerklie who went 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI, followed by Ystaas who went 1-for-3 with a double, walk and two RBI, and Holen who went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI.

The Lakers showed up to the state tournament and showed a lot of fight against the top-ranked team in Beulah. Despite moving into the consolation bracket, there is plenty to be proud of with the way they played on Thursday.

Beulah will take on May-Port-CG in the semifinals, which will take place 35 minutes after the 4 p.m. game. The Lakers will face Hillsboro/Central Valley 35 minutes after the 11 a.m. game today.

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