Prep Softball: Paynesville wins 6AA-West title

Tribune Staff Reports
GLENWOOD - Kayla Schaefer smacked a two run homer in the top of the second inning and Paynesville never trailed in a 7-2 win over Minnewaska in the Section 6AA West winner’s bracket game on Thursday.
Schaefer, was 2-for-3 and drove in three runs. She also pitched a complete game, allowing six hits and two runs.
“It was a nice, good team effort.” Bulldogs coach Tim Woehler said.
Minnewaska’s Morgan Hess was 1-for-3 and Rachel Bakko was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
The Lakers hurt themselves with four errors.
Over the last four meetings between the two clubs, each one has won twice.
“We have always had a back and forth history between us, always good competition.” said Woehler, whose team plays East champ Milaca on Tuesday in Waite Park.
Paynesville 7, Minnewaska 2
Paynesville 002 014 0 - 7 10 0
Minnewaska 001 010 0 - 2 6 4
HITTING – Paynesville: Lexi Skoglund 2-4 r-2, Emma Stevens 1-3 r rbi-2, Kayla Schaefer 2-3 hr, r rbi-3, Allie Stanger 1-4, Brooke Caldwell 1-4, Ashley Eisenbraun 1-4 r, Allie Johnson 1-3, Abbie Wuertz 1-3 r rbi… Minnewaska: Morgan Hess 1-3, Bayley Pooler 1-3 r, Rachel Bakko 2-3 rbi 2b, Taylor Amundson 1-3, Abby VerSteeg 1-3 r
PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) - Paynesville: Schaefer (W) 7-6-2-2-1-2 … Minnewaska: Hess (L) 7-10-7-6-0-2
Minnewaska 11, Osakis 8
Top-seeded Minnewaska kept its season alive by outlasting the Silverstreaks in the West loser’s bracket final on the Lakers’ home field.
The Lakers scored in every inning, but had to survive an Osakis rally attempt in the seventh as the Silverstreaks plated five runs in the frame. The No. 3-seed left the bases loaded when Minnewaska centerfielder Bayley Pooler caught her third fly ball of the inning to end the game.
Minnewaska cranked out 16 hits with Pooler, Ashley Bakko and Morgan Majerus collecting three apiece. Pooler drove in three runs with a pair of RBI singles and an RBI double, and Majerus knocked in two runs with a solo home run and a double.
Rachel Bakko also had two RBI singles for Minnewaska.
Morgan Hess worked into the seventh, but didn’t record an out as Ashley Bakko relieved the sophomore. But Bakko gave up four hits and three runs, and got just two outs before Hess came back in to get the final out and earn her third win of the playoffs.
Minnewaska plays the East runner-up Rocori in another elimination game on Tuesday at Waite Parke at a time to be determined.
Osakis 000 201 5 - 8 12 1
Minnewaska 212 411 x - 11 16 2
HITTING – Osakis: Jenna Fearing 2-4 rbi-2, Morgan Silbernick 3-4 rbi-2, Jessica LeBrun 2-4 rbi-2, Krista Fearing 3-5, Mackenzie Staloch 2-5 rbi … Minnewaska: Morgan Hess 2-5 r-2, Bayley Pooler 3-4 2b r-2 rbi-3, Rachel Bakko 2-4 r rbi-2, Morgan Majerus 3-4 2b solo-HR r rbi-2, Ashley Bakko 3-4 2b r-2 rbi, Taylor Amundson 1-2 r, Jordyn Roggenkamp 1-3 2b rbi, Abby VerSteeg 1-4 2b rbi
PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) - Osakis: Jordyn Rajdl (L) 6-16-11-9-2-1 … Minnewaska: Hess 6-9-5-4-2-3, A. Bakko 0.2-4-3-3-1-0, Hess 0.1-1-0-0-1-0
Mankato East 11, Willmar 1
Mankato East ended Willmar’s season with an 11-1, five-inning victory on Thursday in the Section 2AAA first round in Caswell Park in North Mankato.
Allie Roehl had two of the Cardinals’ three hits, and scored the lone run on Heidi Sellmann’s RBI single in the first inning.
Lexi Kopacek started and took the loss for Willmar.
Willmar 100 00 - 1 3 5
Mankato East 222 14 - 11 11 1
HITTING – Willmar: Allie Roehl 2-2 r, Heidi Sellmann 1-2 rbi … ME: statistics not available
PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) - Willmar: Lexi Kopacek (L) 4.2-11-11-3-3-1 … ME: statistics not available