Osseo-Fairchild softball advances, looks to defend regional title
OSSEO - Osseo-Fairchild High School's prep softball team is aiming for a three-peat of WIAA Division 4 regional championships.
The Thunder (7-14 overall) took their first step towards that goal last week Thursday, May 16 by beating No. 9 seed Independence/Gilmanton 13-6 at Stoddard Park in a first round match-up.
O-F trailed 3-0 in the first inning but plated 10 runs in the second, several thanks to two critical Indee errors that helped multiple runs score plus a lead-off home run by senior second baseman Addy Koxlien. She was a 3-for-4 at the plate I/G (4-12) tried to rally late in the ballgame but winning pitcher, freshman Brylie Johnson, held them down. She was named WHTL's Player of the Game as she allowed seven hits and only two walks in the ballgame while striking out three. And at the plate she had two hits and three RBIs. Other top hitters for the Thunder were senior second baseman Hanna Giacomo 2-for-4 with four RBIs, senior shortstop Halle Colby, a perfect 3-for-3 with two RBIs, junior right fielder Bryssa Johnson, with an RBI and junior third baseman Hailie Knudtson and senior outfielder Chloe Gunderson both had singles.
The Thunder are at Melrose-Mindoro today, Wednesday, May 22 thanks to Tuesday's storms wiping out much of the prep sports schedule. First pitch is at 4:30 p.m. and the game is scheduled to be broadcast on WHTL, FM 102.3. The Mustangs (14-6) are top seed in their regional tournament and are the winners of the Large Dairyland Conference title. However, they're coming into today's game on a two-game losing streak falling to Blair-Taylor and Arcadia. Mel-Min.is led by their top hitters Cooper Zeman, Isabella Rozek and Ayla Reuter and their top pitcher is Emma Severson.
O-F is hoping that playing a tough, competitive Western Cloverbelt Conference with ranked opponents like No. 2 Fall Creek, No. 6 Chippewa Falls McDonell (19-2) and No. 9 Thorp (18-7) along with other solid ballclubs. One game that did get in yesterday was McDonell, a No. 2 seed, blanking No. 7 seed Augusta 15-0 in a rain-delayed contest that went five innings at Casper Park in Chippewa Falls. But Augusta can take solace in the fact their young team was able to get their program's first tournament win in five seasons last week Thursday, May 16 by a 10-0 blanking of Eau Claire Regis in six innings at Augusta. The Beavers finish this season at 7-14 overall.
The winner of the O-F/M-M contest will take on the winner of the No. 4 see Mondovi vs. No. 5 seed Eleva-Strum ballgame today at 2 p.m. in Mondovi. The Cardinals are 9-8 overall and can secured their program';s first winning season with a win. Mondovi (10-10) is also at .500 and finished 9-5 in the Dunn-St. Croix Conference. The Buffaloes' top players include Bella West with a .439 batting average, Kiera Wright at .429; Kyle Sobottka, their leader in RBIs with 12 and Ella Taylor with nine and their pitcher Morghan Ashewell who has 10 wins. Last year the Cardinals got their first tournament win since 2018 and hope to continue to make progress this season.
Fall Creek opens postseason play today against Glenwood City (6-12). The Crickets have the top seed in their regional tournament bracket and will face either No. 5 seed Cadott (9-10) or No. 4 seed Boyceville (13-6), who are also playing today, tomorrow at 5 p.m. in Fall Creek. Showing how competitive the WCC was this regular season, the Hornets final game last week was an upset win over Thorp.
The Crickets could host their tournament games up to the finals next Thursday which is being played at Casper Park.
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