Class 4A's top-ranked Anoka will be among four teams competing in the first Brainerd Warriors Invite Saturday at Adamson Field.
A member of the Northwest Suburban Conference, Anoka is 4-1 after losing to Elk River Tuesday. The Tornadoes played in the 3A state championship game last year losing 2-1 to Eastview. Anoka returns most of its team other than center fielder Taylor Chell now at the University of Minnesota. Senior first baseman Morgan Paaverud has signed with Division I Toledo.
Centennial, another Northwest Suburban Conference team, is receiving votes in 4A and is 3-2. Catcher Amber Montero is batting .500. Pitcher Jenna Troste carries an 11-3 career record with 112 career strikeouts and a 2.07 ERA.
Duluth Denfeld is ranked 12th in 3A and is 7-2 this season. Ashley Taipale will play at Minnesota-Duluth next season. She averages seven strikeouts a game, sports a .413 batting average and has hit eight home runs this season. She has struck out 416 batters in her career.
Brainerd is 4-2 after defeating Sartell 6-4 Tuesday. Nine seniors are on the team, led by captains Maddy Stall, Maddie Ellingson, Brooke Mimmack and Kaye Smude.
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"This is Year One of our Warrior Invite and I am really excited about bringing in three great softball teams to our community," Brainerd coach Shane Jordan said. "Our team looks forward to the challenge of playing some teams outside of our section and outside of our conference. All three teams bring great players to this tourney.
"It looks like we will have a beautiful day for softball, so I hope we have a good crowd to watch some quality teams."
Saturday's Games
Junior Varsity Field
Anoka vs. Duluth Denfeld 11 a.m.
Centennial vs. Anoka 1 p.m.
Denfeld vs. Centennial 3 p.m.
Varsity Field
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Centennial vs. Brainerd 11 a.m.
Brainerd vs. Denfeld 1 p.m.
Anoka vs. Brainerd 3 p.m.
