The Velva-Drake-Anamoose softball team saved one of its best offensive games with the Region 4 championship title on the line, tying a season-high in runs in a 21-6 victory over top-seeded Beulah on Thursday, May 21, in Wilton to earn a trip to the state tournament.

The second-seeded Aggies (18-5) avenged their loss to the Miners during the regular season in which they were held to just a single run in a 5-1 loss.

On Thursday, the Aggies collected 22 hits, including two triples and five doubles. All nine batters recorded a hit, eight scored runs and seven registered RBIs. Emma Balas finished 4-for-4 with a triple, double, five RBIs and three runs scored. Grace Balas was 3-for-5 with a triple, two RBIs and two runs scored. Evalyn Selzler and Tessa Clemens also recorded three hits. Sizzler drove in four runs.

Velva-Drake-Anamoose plated six runs in the second for a 6-1 lead and added seven more in the third, ballooning its advantage to 13-2. The Aggies put up two more runs in the fourth before punctuating their title with a six-run fifth.

It was the fifth time this season the Aggies have recorded 20 or more runs and the 16th time scoring at least 10 runs. The Aggies outscored their three opponents 42-7 through their run in the tournament. The Aggies defeated South Prairie-Max in the quarterfinal round and bested Central McLean in the semifinals.

Beulah (16-5) advanced to the state tournament by defeating Central McLean, 14-4, in a state qualifier.

The Aggies are the No. 2 seed at the Class B state tournament and play Glenburn in the quarterfinal round on Thursday, May 28, at 11 a.m. at Lyle “Trapper” Lawrence Field in Jamestown.