The Remsen St. Mary’s softball team had their season come to an end one game short of the state tournament with an 11-5 loss to No. 7 St. Edmond in a Class 1A region final on Monday night.
After last year’s senior class graduated, there were many questions as to whether or not the Hawks could have a winning season let alone make it to a region final or be in contention for the state tournament. Remsen St. Mary’s head coach Erika Bates says she was proud of the way her kids competed all season and against a tough Gaels team.
The Hawks faced some early adversity allowing seven runs to the Gaels in the first two innings. Remsen St. Mary’s was able to fight back against that adversity in the top of the third with Kimberly Cronin getting a two-out base hit to set up Grace Galles for a two-run home run. Coach Bates says that inning changed the complexion of the game and gave the girls some confidence.
Neither team could get much going until the sixth inning when Remsen St. Mary’s scored three runs to cut it to a 7-5 game. Unfortunately, St. Edmond answered with four runs in the bottom of that inning to make it 11-5. Coach Bates says the team battled hard but did not have enough to fight back against a great offense.
The Hawks end the season at 16-8. The loss stings early on, and that can be used as motivation for everyone that wore a Hawk jersey. Coach Bates says it is huge that she does not have a single senior, and the team can have a chance to run it back next year.
St. Edmond improves to 24-10. They earn the sixth seed in the Class 1A state tournament where they will face off with Wapsie Valley in the first round.
