Sean Williams/MDN Sierra Yale (7) of the Des Lacs-Burlington Lakers delivers a pitch during the 2023 Class B Softball State Tournament at South Hill Complex.

Following consecutive losses to begin the 2023 NDHSAA Class B Softball State Tournament, the Des Lacs-Burlington Lakers softball team had a chance to earn one more win on Saturday before they closed the book on the 2023 season.

Standing in their way was the Central McLean Cougars, who had a lot to play for as well with the Cougars making their first ever state tournament this year. In a back-and-forth affair, the Lakers used late-game heroics to defeat the Cougars, 8-7, and secure a seventh-place finish at state.

Seeming like they were ready to get their first state tournament game win in program history, the Cougars scored six unanswered runs in the third and fourth innings to begin the battle.

The first two Cougars’ runs of the day were scored on an error in the third, then Brooklyn Tomlinson scored on a passed ball to make it a 3-0 game. Heading into the fourth, the Cougars added to their lead on an RBI single from Averie Schlafmann and a two-run inside the park home run from Daisy Sparrow, extending their lead to 6-0.

Fighting back in the bottom half of the frame were the Lakers, as they rallied for four runs to make it a 6-4 game at the end of the fourth. Zannah Bjerklie got the team on the board with an RBI single, then Mya Neshem brought another run home on a groundout.

Not stopping there were the Lakers, as Piper Feller added an RBI triple and then scored on an error in the bottom of the fourth to trim the Lakers’ deficit to 6-4. Suddenly, they were right back in the fight.

Adding an important insurance run in the top of the seventh were the Cougars, who got their final run of the day when Tomlinson doubled then scored on a passed ball to make it a 7-4 game.

With three outs to go, the Lakers needed four runs to secure a seventh-place finish at state. Seeming like a longshot, the Lakers never gave up hope and got exactly what they needed.

Sparking a rally at an opportune time by getting on base were Cambrey Benno and Zanah Bjerklie who walked, and Shaylie Holen who reached on an error to load the bases for the Lakers.

Laney Wahus helped bring the next run home by putting a ball in play that generated an error, scoring Kaelyn Bachmeier who reached on a fielder’s choice, making it a 7-5 game.

That set the scene for eighth grader Sierra Yale to complete the comeback for the Lakers on a three-run, walk-off double to propel the team to an 8-7 victory over the Cougars. The dramatic win by the Lakers gave them a thriller to close out the season.

Yale also picked up the win on the mound, where she tossed 4.1 innings and allowed five runs (one earned) on three hits with six walks and six strikeouts. At the plate, Yale went 1-for-2 with a double and three RBI.

The Lakers were also led by Bjerklie, Wahus, Neshem, and Feller who had an RBI each, and Benno and Holen who added one hit each.

Sparrow led the way for the Cougars, going 1-for-2 with a home run, two walks and two RBI at the plate. On the mound, Sparrow tossed 6.1 innings, allowing eight runs (three earned) on five hits with eight walks and seven strikeouts.