The Iron Range All-Stars swept the Duluth All-Stars with a pair of 1-0 shutouts in the inaugural Northern Stars All-Star softball game Wednesday night at Kenwood Field.
Katie McBride and Courtney Anderson combined on a three-hitter in the opening victory, then Carla Anderson and Courtney Anderson teamed to toss a five-hitter in an eight-inning victory in the nightcap.
Megan Beard of Eveleth-Gilbert singled, stole second base and scored on a double by Littlefork-Big Falls' Kelly Hams for the only run in the fifth inning. That made a winner of Virginia senior Courtney Anderson, who pitched three hitless innings in relief of McBride of Grand Rapids.
Duluth threatened in the fourth, loading the bases with no outs on singles by Ashley Martin of Superior, Tyra Kerr of Duluth East and Courtney Broten of Hermantown before McBride registered three consecutive outs.
The second game was decided in the eighth inning by using the international tiebreaking rule of putting a runner on second base. International Falls junior Danika Stelton scored on a bunt single by Grand Rapids' Emma Nelson.
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Courtney Anderson allowed two hits in three innings of relief of Eveleth-Gilbert's Carla Anderson and was named the series most valuable player.
