Photo by Sam Thiel Wabasso’s Sarah Franta winds up a pitch during their Section 3A tournament game against Lac qui Parle Valley on Tuesday at Lakeview High School. Wabasso defeated LQPV 10-0 in six innings before falling to Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg 10-7.

COTTONWOOD — After falling to Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian on Saturday, the No. 2S Wabasso softball team entered Tuesday needing a pair of victories in order to keep its season alive. The Rabbits were able to earn a 10-0 win against No. 1N Lac qui Parle Valley in six innings, but fell short against No. 2N Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg 10-7 in the consolation bracket. With the loss, Wabasso ends its season with an 11-12 record.

Wabasso assistant coach Kimberly Frank said despite the tough finish, they were extremely proud of the way their team competed and continued to battle to the end.

“We were super happy with how the girls played,” coach Frank said. “Our leadership really showed in the end of the season here and we couldn’t ask anything more from our seniors. We were right where we needed to be, we were the second seed and we made it right here and that’s where we needed to be.”

Wabasso 10, LQPV 0 (6 innings)

(Game 1)

Wabasso started its day against the top seed in the North bracket in the Eagles. The Rabbits got out to a solid start, as Madeline Hanna reached on an infield single before Sarah Franta drew a walk and both runners advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch. After Sophia Hanna drew a walk to load the bases, Kelsey Frank got Wabasso on the board on a sacrifice fly to make it 1-0 after one. The Rabbits then added another run in the bottom of the second when Avery Carlson connected on a single and scored on an error when she stole second base to push the lead to 2-0.

Neither side would get on the board over the next couple of frames, but Wabasso continued its momentum in the fifth. Madeline Hanna got things started with a leadoff infield single before Sophia Hanna drew a walk and Frank plated a run on a fielder’s choice. One batter later, Cassidy Irlbeck connected on an RBI single to make it 4-0.

LQPV, who had only one hit on the game in the first five innings combined, had an opportunity to get on the board in the sixth by reaching on an error and getting a single and a double steal to put runners in scoring position, but Franta was able to get out of the jam with a flyout and a groundout to keep the Eagles off the board.

In the bottom half of the sixth, Wabasso had an answer, as Halle Huhnerkoch drew a leadoff walk before coming around to score on an RBI single by Avery Carlson. After Franta plated another run on an RBI single, Sophia Hanna and Frank reached to load the bases before Irlbeck cleared them with one swing on a double. Kelsey Fischer then brought the game to the 10-0 final on an RBI single.

Irlbeck led Wabasso with two hits and four RBI while Carlson and Fischer each added two hits and an RBI, Madeline Hanna had two hits, Franta had a hit and an RBI, Sophia Hanna and Huhnerkoch each had a hit and Frank had two RBI.

Franta earned the victory in the circle, going six innings while allowing no runs on just two hits and struck out four.

KMS 10, Wabasso 7

After taking down LQPV, the Rabbits looked to maintain its momentum, but KMS had other ideas and used a leadoff single and an error before a two-run single got the Eagles on the board, KMS wasn’t done there, though, loading the bases before another two-run single made it 4-0 after a half-inning of play.

Wabasso would have a response, however, as Madeline Hanna and Sarah Franta reached before an error and an RBI single by Kelsey Frank made it 4-2. The Rabbits then got an RBI groundout from Kelsey Fischer to draw to within a run after the first inning.

Neither side would find scoring over the next couple of innings before Wabasso pieced together a rally in the fourth. Kelsey Fischer led things off with a double before Halle Huhnerkoch reached on an infield single and a wild pitch tied things up at 4-4. The Rabbits weren’t done there, as Madeline Hanna reached on an error to plate a run before Franta lined an RBI single to put them in front at 6-4.

After a scoreless fifth, the Fighting Saints responded with a rally of their own in the sixth, getting a string of singles with one out to plate a run before a two-run double put KMS up 7-6. KMS then extended its advantage to 9-6 on an RBI groundout and an RBI single. The Fighting Saints later added a run in the top of the seventh to make it 10-6.

In need of a spark, the Rabbits got a leadoff single from Frank to start the bottom of the seventh before Fischer connected on a single a couple of batters later. After a flyout put Wabasso down to its final out, Frank and Fischer each stole a base to put themselves in scoring position. Kylei Wilkinson then stepped up and connected on an RBI single to make it 10-7, but KMS would get a groundout on the ensuing at-bat to seal the victory and advance to the Section 3A championship game.

Franta, Frank and Fischer led Wabasso with two hits each and an RBI while Wilkinson added a hit and an RBI, Huhnerkoch had a hit and Madeline Hanna had an RBI.

Franta took the loss in the circle, going seven innings while allowing 10 runs on 13 hits and struck out seven. Coach Frank said in both games she did a good job of hitting her spots and staying mentally tough for her team.

“Sarah was getting to her spots and hitting her locations and mentally she stayed tough,” coach Frank said. “If she misses a call, she’s being tough for the rest of the team and is finding a way to get the next call for her.”

Saluting the seniors

Tuesday’s games were the final ones for Wabasso’s four seniors in Franta, Huhnerkoch, Irlbeck and Madeline Hanna. Coach Frank said all of the seniors provided a ton of dedication and leadership to the program throughout the years and they’re going to be missed.

“They provided so much dedication, leadership and mental strength,” coach Frank said. “We’re really going to miss them, they were there every day making sure that the younger girls were playing hard and working hard, so we’re really going to miss that.”

Up next

Going into next season, coach Frank said they know what it takes to get this far and will be motivated to make an even deeper run in the postseason.

“I think we’re really going to look at those seniors and know what we need to be like,” coach Frank. “We’re here now and the younger girls know where they want to be next year, so hopefully we can make a run to the section finals.”