State tournaments are not new for the Verndale School District, but this one is.
For the first time in school history Verndale will play in the Class 1A state softball tournament.
The Pirates defeated the Hawley Nuggets 5-4 May 29 to win the Section 6-1A title and head into the state tournament with a 19-2 overall record.
Verndale will play Section 7 champion Littlefork-Big Falls, which enters state with a 19-5 mark in a quarterfinal game at 1 p.m. Thursday at Caswell Park in North Mankato.
"The team is really excited and we're just tickled to get down there and play," said Verndale head coach Tim Seaton. "Nerves haven't been an issue on this team all year. We like to keep the pressure on and have fun. We know what we can do. We're confident and just really excited for the chance to play down there for the first time ever."
During the regular season Verndale scored 119 runs, while allowing just 28.
As a team the Pirates are hitting .290 and have a team ERA of 0.33. Junior Nicole Bart has pitched 138 innings and owns an 18-2 record. Her two losses both came against Ottertail Central, which heads into the 2A state tournament with a 23-0 record.
Bart had 190 strikeouts and has an ERA of 0.35. Picking up Verndale's other win was Alicia Johnson.
Nicole Bart
"We're healthy," said Seaton. "Nikki was battling a pulled muscle, but the week off has helped her and given her a chance to heal. We need her at 100 percent down here."
Johnson leads the team with a .468 batting average. She's driven in 24 runs on 30 hits.
L-BF returns to state after a two-year absence. This is the third appearance for the Vikings, who had 211 hits and scored 174 runs. They finished with a .470 team batting average.
Senior Kelly Hams led L-BF with a 13-5 record, 2.12 ERA and 134 strikeouts in the regular season.
"They have a very good pitcher, who is also their best hitter," said Seaton. "She's one person we have to look out for.
"Their shortstop is a very good fielder and their catcher has a good arm."
Depending on the outcome of the quarterfinal matchup, Verndale will play the winner or loser of the Maple Lake (23-2) vs. Badger/Greenbush-Middle River (18-8) quarterfinal.
Alicia Johnson
The other half of the bracket features Chatfield (20-3) vs. New Life Academy of Woodbury (18-5) and New Ulm Cathedral (23-5) vs. Wabasso (23-2).
The semifinals and consolation semifinals also will be played Thursday with the championship, third-place game and consolation championship game played Friday.
JEREMY MILLSOP may be reached at jeremy.millsop@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5856.
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