Prep Softball: Section 6A Championship: Lady Braves edge Parkers Prairie 1-0 for state trip (REPOSTED)
The Menahga Lady Braves celebrated their Section 6A Championship and state tournament berth with the 1-0 victory over Parkers Prairie on Thursday.
Photo courtesy Tim Ellingson/Blueberry Bugler
It was tough, tooth-and-nail battle but the Menahga Lady Braves earned a return trip to the Class A State Girls Softball Tournament since 2007 with the 1-0 victory over Park Region Conference rival Parkers Prairie in the Section 6A title game Thursday.
The game featured a classic pitchers duel between Lady Braves ace Lindsey White and the Panthers Sari Noga, as well as splendid defensive play on both sides of the ball.
The Lady Braves ended an early threat by the Panthers in the first inning when they caught Micaela Noga in a hot box attempting to score off a single from her sister Sari Noga.
Menahga stranded two runners in the second inning when a Panther error allowed Jenny Skoog to reach base with two outs. Jada Melton advanced her over to second on a single but Sari Noga ended that threat when she got Tarah Cleveland to fly out to right.
With two outs in the third inning, Parkers Prairie looked to break opening the scoreless game when a pair of singles and an intentional walk loaded the bases. White was able to escape that jam by getting the next batter in the order to ground out to second.
Menahga finally cracked through in the fourth. Amelia Pho hit a triple and later beat out the throw at home after Skoog dropped a sacrifice bunt in front of the plate.
The Panther catcher held Pho at third and then fired the ball to first. The speedy senior then took off for home and scored when the return throw was high and dropped by the catcher.
Both teams managed one hit apiece the rest of the game with Menahga getting a single from Melton, her second and the Lady Braves third overall hit of the game.
White surrendered four hits and struck out two in seven innings to earn the win for Menahga. The junior retired the Panther order in the seventh, sending the Lady Braves to state.
The Lady Braves (10-14) will face Blooming Prairie in the opener of the Class A State Girls Softball Tournament. The first pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. at Caswell Park in North Mankato Thursday (June 10).
Section 6A Championship
Menahga vs. Parkers Prairie on June 3
Lady Braves 1, Panthers 0
Menahga 0 0 0 1 0 0 0—1 3 0
Parkers Prairie 0 0 0 0 0 0 0—0 4 1
WP: Lindsey White (Menahga) (7IP, 4H, 0R, 0ER, BB, 2K)
LP: Sari Noga (PP)
Menahga—Amelia Pho 1-2, 3B, R; Jada Melton 2-2; Jenny Skoog 0-2, RBI
Parkers Prairie—Stats incompete
