Rampage finish 5-2 at national softball tournament

EAGAN, Minn. – The Superior Rampage 12U softball team ran its record to 5-0 at the North American Fast Pitch Association’s Northern Nationals softball tournament until being shut out by the host Eagan team 3-0 Saturday afternoon.

After going 3-0 in pool play, the Rampage began bracket by defeating the Northwest Diamonds 5-2 and Highland Park Gold 3-1.

The Rampage (28-7) lost to Mankato Peppers Blue 5-2 Sunday morning.

The beginning of play Saturday was delayed two hours because of rain. Games were then limited to 45 minutes.

Madysen Stariha was the winning pitcher for the Rampage in Saturday’s win over the Diamonds, allowing three hits with four strikeouts.

Offensively, the Rampage got an RBI double from Allie Thul; a two-run single from Ashley Welch; an RBI single from Brandie Goldberg; and singles from Hannah Thul and Natalie Noble.

Brandie Goldberg allowed one hit and struck out seven in the Rampage’s win over Highland Park.

All three of Superior’s runs came in the third inning. Jordan Olson had a RBI single and three stolen bases; Goldberg hit an RBI single and Lexi Johnson singled.

Eagan scored all three of its runs in the third inning of a four-inning game.

Goldberg suffered the loss, allowing two hits with six strikeouts.

The Rampage also had two hots, one each from J. Olson and Allie Thul.

POOL PLAY

The Rampage completed pool play with a perfect 3-0 record.

The Rampage wrapped up pool play with a 3-2 win over the Andover (Minn.) Huskies Friday afternoon after defeating Waconia, Minn., 9-5 Friday morning and Apple Valley 4-0 on Thursday.

Goldberg picked up her third pitching victory, tossing a one-hitter with six strikeouts and no walks. She also helped herself at the plate with an RBI single.

Also for Superior, A. Thul hit a home run and L. Johnson knocked in the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Goldberg’s RBI single, scoring Erika Olson, who singled, gave Superior a 1-0 lead in the first inning, but Andover tied the game in the top of the third.

Superior regained a 2-1 lead on Thul’s home run over the left-fielder’s head in the fifth inning, but Andover answered again with Kallio’s RBI on a fielder’s choice in the top of the seventh.

H. Thul scored Superior’s winning run in the bottom of the seventh when she doubled, moved to third on Lanie DeMeyer’s bunt single and scored on Johnson’s ground ball to first base. Andover attempted to get the out at the plate, but the throw was late, allowing Thul to score.

Superior had eight hits, A. Thul’s home run; two singles by Erin Thompson; H. Thul’s double; and singles by E. Olson, Goldberg, DeMeyer and Johnson.

Miah Hermansen and Grace Gady pitched for Andover, which got an RBI sac fly from Lauren Scheneman in the third inning and an RBI ground out from Marissa Kallio in the top of the seventh.

Against Waconia, Goldberg allowed three hits with five strikeouts and two walks.

Superior didn’t get off to a great start as Waconia took a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Two of the runs came in on Mackenzie Merritt’s double.

The Rampage tied the game up in the bottom of the first inning as J. Olson singled and scored on Thompson’s double. After Goldberg singled, H. Thul hit a two-run single, which was followed by Stariha’s RBI double.

Waconia regained a 5-4 lead in the top of the second, but the Rampage answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning.

DeMeyer walked, Johnson singled and the two moved up on A. Thul’s sac bunt. J. Olson followed with a RBI single, which was followed by E. Olson’s two-run single.

The Rampage completed the scoring in the fourth inning when Johnson singled and scored on E. Olson’s triple. Olson also scored on the play thanks to a throwing error.

Overall, Superior had 11 hits. E. Olson had a triple, single and three RBIs; Thompson had a double, singles and an RBI; J. Olson had two singles and an RBI; H. Thul had a two-run single; Stariha had a RBI double; Johnson had two singles and Goldberg singled.

Goldberg also pitched the shutout for the Rampage against Apple Valley, scattering four hits with seven strikeouts and one walk.

A. Thul was the sparkplug for Superior, finishing with one hit, two walks, two runs scored and four stolen bases.

Superior also got a pair of RBI singles from E. Olson; an RBI double from Natalie Noble; an RBI single from M. Stariha and singles from E. Thompson, Goldberg and H. Thul.

Jaycee Lentz doubled and Kayla Larson, Ellie Sammon and Maggie Sammon singled for Apple Valley.

The only run Superior needed came in the bottom of the first inning when A. Thul walked, stole second and third base and scored on E. Olson’s single.

The Rampage extended their lead to 3-0 in the fourth inning. Goldberg singled and scored on a single by Stariha, who then scored on Noble’s double.

Superior’s final run came in the fifth inning when A. Thul singled, stole second and scored on E. Olson’s single.

12U National Softball Tournament

Egan, Minn.

Pool-Play Schedule

Thursday, July 19

Superior Rampage 4, Apple Valley Lentz 0

Waconia 7, Andover Huskies 0

Friday, July 20

Superior Rampage 9, Waconia 5

Apple Valley Lentz 5. Andover Huskies 3

Superior Rampage 3, Andover Huskies 2

Apple Valley Lentz 8, Waconia 7

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