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Title game set in NDHSAA Class B Softball State Tournament

Sean Williams/MDN The Thompson Tommies softball team getting ready to take the field during a 2023 NDHSAA Class B Softball State Tournament against the Kindred-Richland Vikings on Friday.

Four Class B softball teams secured a 2023 NDHSAA Class B Softball State Tournament semifinal appearance on Thursday, making way for a thrilling pair of games on Friday. Following the action, only two teams found themselves one win away from reaching their ultimate goal in winning a state title.

The first semifinal matchup featured the Thompson Tommies, who secured a semifinal appearance by taking down the No. 2-seeded team in the Renville County Mavericks to open state tournament play.

On the other side of the matchup, the No. 3 Kindred-Richland Vikings picked up a win over the Central McLean Cougars to advance. These teams met once during the regular season, where the Vikings picked up an 8-6 win back in April.

Game one: Thompson 4, Kindred-Richland 3

In a back-and-forth affair that was briefly halted by weather, the Tommies were able to throw the final punches after play resumed. A sacrifice fly in the top of the third by Olivia Dick broke the scoreless tie, giving Thompson a 1-0 lead.

Not wanting to lie down in the fight, the Vikings put three runs on the board in the bottom of the fifth, courtesy of an RBI double from Braya Mauch, an RBI triple from Avery Amerman, and a sacrifice bunt from Danica Rath. The rally by the Vikings gave them a 3-1 lead.

As play resumed in the sixth, Thompson brought the game to its final by countering with three runs of their own. A bases loaded walk from Kjersten Lopez, and Summer Hegg and Kya Hurst scoring on an error secured the 4-3 win for Thompson as they will play for a state title this afternoon.

Sydney Schwabe went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead the Tommies, followed by Lopez who went 1-for-2 with a walk and an RBI, Dick who added an RBI, and Marleigh Kurtz who went 1-for-3. Dru Schwab started on the mound, throwing five innings and allowing three runs on seven hits with three walks and three strikeouts.

The Vikings were led by Mauch, Amerman, and Rath who had an RBI each. Rath also put forth a great effort on the mound, throwing five innings while allowing four runs (one earned) on five hits with one walk and three strikeouts.

The second semifinal matchup featured the No. 1-ranked team in the Beulah Miners and the No. 5 May-Port-C-G Patriots. Beulah has beaten all their Class B foes this year, however, the Des Lacs-Burlington Lakers came close to knocking them out on Thursday. Utilizing a late rally, the Miners advanced to the semis with a 6-5 win.

Getting off to a great start in the Magic City were the Patriots, who took down the No. 4 Hillsboro/Central Valley Burros to open state tournament play. Friday marks the first time these teams will play each other this year.

Game two: Beulah 4, May-Port-C-G 2

Beulah took the lead in the bottom of the first and they never lost it in a 4-2 win over the Patriots. Cali Steffan got the Miners on the board with a two-run single, scoring Taylor Christensen who tripled and Addison Dale-Geiger who walked earlier in the frame to give the Miners an early 2-0 lead.

From there, both teams went quiet as the Miners were the next team to strike in the bottom of the fifth. An RBI single from Dale-Geiger, who then turned around and scored on an error, gave Beulah their four runs in the game.

The Patriots managed to avoid a shutout by plating two in the top of the sixth inning. A groundout from Rylee Satrom and Danica Hanson scoring on an error led to the runs, which brought the game to its final of 4-2 in favor of Beulah.

Even though the potential shutout was broken near the end of the game, T. Christensen dominated on the mound. In seven innings of work, T. Christensen allowed two runs (zero earned) on one hit with no walks and 14 strikeouts.

At the plate, the Miners were led by Steffan who went 1-for-2 with two RBI, followed by Dale-Geiger who went 1-for-2 with a walk and an RBI, and T. Christensen who went 2-for-3.

Maysa Larson picked up the lone hit for the Patriots. Satrom took the loss on the mound, where she tossed a solid six innings and allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits with two walks and five strikeouts.

This afternoon at 4 p.m., the Thompson Tommies and the Beulah Miners will battle for a state title at South Hill Softball Complex. Neither team has won a title before, so there will be a brand-new state champion.

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