(All games at Caswell Park, North Mankato)
Hermantown vs.Ottertail Central
When: 1 p.m.
Records: Hermantown 20-3; Ottertail Central 23-0
Outlook: Hermantown returns to the tournament after a two-year absence. The Hawks earned titles in 1991 and 2002. They didn't allow a run in four Section 7 playoff games and hit .340 during the regular season. Sophomore Julia Gilbert had 37 hits and batted .500 during the regular season. Shortstop Sarah Edgerton hit .425 with 22 RBIs, while sophomore Megan Mullen batted .403 with 14 RBIs. Mullen (17-1, 0.36) totaled 213 strikeouts in 118 innings and had three no-hitters. ... Ottertail Central, a co-op of Battle Lake, Henning and Underwood, won Section 8 to earn its first trip to the state tournament. The Bulldogs hit .316 and stole 97 bases this year. Sophomore Carley Nelson batted .500 with 19 RBIs, and is 11-0 with a 0.38 ERA. Freshman Carmen Malmstrom (8-0, 1.32) split duties with Nelson on the mound.
ADVERTISEMENT
Radio: WKLK 96.5 FM
Verndale vs. Littlefork-Big Falls
Time: 1 p.m.
Records: Verndale 19-2; Littlefork-Big Falls 19-5
Outlook: It's Verndale's first state tournament appearance. The Pirates outscored opponents 119-28 en route to capturing Section 6. They bat .290 as a team and have an ERA of 0.33. Junior pitcher Nicole Bart (18-2, 0.35) tossed 190 strikeouts in 138 innings. Junior Alicia Johnson had a team-high .468 batting average and 24 RBIs during regular-season play. ... Littlefork-Big Falls returns to the tournament after a two-year hiatus. This is the third appearance for the Vikings, who scored 174 runs with a team batting average of .470. Senior Kelly Hams (13-5,2.12, 134 strikeouts) helped the Vikings claim the Section 7 crown.
