Superior Ponies win tournament

The Superior Ponies fast pitch team won the championship in its tier Sunday at the Ashley Abrahamson Memorial tournament in Cloquet over the weekend.

Members of the Ponies team are Kari Miller, Kaitlyn Mergen, Dani Lundgren, Taylor Thompson, Juliana Polson, Taylor Johnson, Kayla Grills, Cassie O’Neil, Emily Noble, Danielle Magdzas, Caitlyn Pendleton and Ashlee Berg. Coaches are Dale and Theresa Lundgren.

“All the girls played very good ball this weekend with great defense and great hitting,” Theresa Lundgren said. “It was definitely a team effort.”

The Ponies competed in pool play on Saturday and bracket play on Sunday. Superior had a bye in the first round Sunday and played Virginia, Minn. in the second round. The game went through three extra innings, but the Ponies came away with a 12-11 victory.

Thompson was the winning pitcher for the Ponies, striking out four and walking three.

Leading Superior’s offense were Miller and Mergen, both of whom went 3-for-4 in the game. Thompson collected two hits for the Ponies and Lundgren, Polson, Grills, Noble, Pendleton and Berg all had base hits.

At catcher, O’Neil threw out two runners attempting to steal, and she also made the winning out by catching a foul ball near the fence.

In the championship game, the Ponies played the Proctor Steam and won in five innings, 11-3. Lundgren struck out five and walked three to earn the pitching win. She also had the final RBI to end the game in five innings.

Miller had another strong game at the plate, going 2-for-2. Johnson also went 2-for-2, and Mergen was 2-for-3. Grills, O’Neil, Noble and Magdzas all had base hits.

On defense, Berg made a double play at second to end the fifth inning with runners on first and third. Polson and Miller were also involved in a double play at short stop and second base.

Tags: softball, superior, ponies