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“That was our biggest fear coming into the state. “We had trouble in the second game of a lot of tournaments,” Reasner said. The close second game victory was a big one for the Shakers. “Physcially we were very strong and once we overcame some mental things, there was no stopping us.” “We saved our best softball for the state tournament,” Reasner said. Hawkins, Gaskins and Anna Daggett were the team’s leading hitters while Bennett did most of the pitching. The Shakers finished with a record of 29-10-1 for the season. Peter Blue Rockers won the consolation title in the 20 team tournament with a 12-11 victory over Blaine Blue. If we stay together, we should be very tough again next year.” “We were basically a first year team,” Reasner said. Janet Gaskins had three hits in an easy 17-6 win over Richfield, then Sara Stow and Gaskins each had two hits in an 11-2 win over Orono for the championship. Hawkins drove in the winning run in the fifth inning on a squeeze bunt. It wasn’t so easily in the next game as the Shakers nudged Bloomington 10-9.
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Julie Hawkins had a bases-loaded triple in the fifth to help the Mankato team score eight runs in the inning. Paul Cunningham 11-4 in their first game as Tonya Bennett fired a one-hitter and struck out seven. Once we did that, we played excellent softball throughout the tournament.” “The girls just had to figure out that they could win. “We were the favorites going into the tournament,” Reasner said. Reasner didn’t let that get in his way though as he led the Mankato Pepper Shakers to the Minnesota ASA Class B Junior Girl’s fast-pitch state championship July 23-24 in Winona. “I had been involved in Little League baseball for several years but this was my first experience with girls,” he said. Other members of the team include Claudia Ek, Heather Groth and Jeanne Tostenson.Ĭharlie Reasner had never coached a girl’s softball team before this season. “I got involved with the team because my daughter was playing. “At the start of the season we knew we had a pretty good team but we never dreamed we’d win the state tournament,” Gruber said. Legion Red got second place in the 20 team tournament while the Centennial Twins won the consolation title with a 12-2 win over Loretto. “We should have six or seven of our players on high school varsity teams this year,” he said. After three years most of his players are sophomores in high school. Gruber started three years ago with a group of 13-year-olds. “We were a little nervous when the tournament started but after that we really got going.” “Amy Kretsch had 13 RBI’s for us in the state,” Gruber said. 426 in the state, which was excellent,” Gruber said. Heather Johnson, who had seven hits in 14 at-bats in the tournament, was 3-for-6 in the title game with a triple and two singles. On the mound she struck out nine to help the Blue to a 19-9 victory over New Ulm. In the championship game, Bastian went 3-for-5 at the plate, including a home run. She followed that up with a 13 strikeout effort in a 9-4 victory over Woodbury. “We got excellent pitching from both Juli Bastian and Maczuga all season,” Gruber said.īastian took over in a 13-3 win over Forest Lake, allowing just three hits. Suzanne Maczuga got the pitching victory. The Mankato team opened the state tournament with an 11-9 victory over Coon Rapids as Jenny Reed and Jessie Gruber each had two hits. “We had fun at the state but it was the only weekend tourney we entered.” “Looking back I wish we would have played in some invitational tournaments.” Gruber said.
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Pepper Blue started the season fast and just kept on going. Gruber’s team finished the season with a 21-0-1 record, with the lone blemish being a tie against the Class B champion Pepper Shakers. “The girls stayed together and developed into an excellent team.” “We basically started three years ago with players that the upper division teams didn’t want,” Coach Rick Gruber said. The city swept all three junior state tournaments including the Minnesota ASA Class C junior title won by Pepper Blue in Winona July 23-24. Mankato could easily be called the cradle of girl’s fast-pitch softball in Minnesota.