By Brenda Erdahl
Sports Editor
The Maple Lake High School softball team met an early end at the State Tournament Tuesday, June 15 when a late game rally by Pipestone knocked them out of the running.
The No. 2 seeded Irish had hoped for a repeat of the 2018 state-winning season, but it was not to be. Tied at three in the top of the eighth, Pipestone scored the game winning and Irish season ending run on an error.
The Maple Lake team went into the tournament at Caswell Park in Mankato favored behind only LeSuer-Henderson who had the No. 1 seed. The Irish were 22-3 overall after some intense section tournament wins over Rockford.
Pipestone struck first in the opening inning on a ground out then lengthened their lead to 2-0 in the top of the fourth. The Irish answered with two of their own runs in the bottom of the fourth to tie it up, then pulled ahead with another run in the bottom of the fifth. Pipestone knotted the score again in the top of the sixth to set the stage for their eighth inning victory.
Taylor Hess, Bryn Elsenpeter, Emma Jude and Kendra Jude each managed one hit with both Judes earning RBIs.
Hess pitched all eight innings for the Irish. She gave up four runs on four hits, struck out seven and walked one.
Pipestone went on to lose to Annandale (No. 5 seed) for third place and LeSuer-Henderson claimed the championship title, defeating St. Charles (No. 3 seed) 7-4