Hawks Come Within A Run Of Repeat

Wes Vork-NSO

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June 12, 2010

Dwight Cadwell-NSO

MANKATO- Hermantown pitcher Megan Mullen had thoughts of a second state championship to cap off her softball career at Hermantown High School. Mullen was a dominant force for the Hawks for the past several seasons and led them to the state championship in 2009. However, this season it was Park Center that capitalized and came away with a 2-1 win at Caswell Park in North Mankato.

“It’s a tough way to go out.
We had targets on our backs all season long and we fought hard to get back here,” Mullen told Northland Sports Online. She continued, “They have a great pitcher and we didn’t lay off the pitches we should have. We kept going after them and it put us behind in the count.” Nicola Tade gave up five hits in the Pirates 2-1 victory over Hermantown. She had twelve strikeouts and walked none for the win.

Despite the loss, Mullen added another outstanding game for Hermantown. She only allowed two runs, one of which was unearned, and four hits while striking out nine Pirate batters. Mullen pitched well all tournament long, also tossing a no hitter in the class AA semi-final win over Mankato East. Forty-three of the fifty-six pitches thrown by Mullen were strikes, showing a true testament to the control she had in the game.

In the end, it was a hard hit ball that lined off the leg of Mullen that allowed Kati Fern to score from third base after she had doubled in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Pirates held on in the top of the seventh to capture the 2010 Class AA championship. Dani Brown scored the other Pirate run in the third inning on a Hawk throwing error. The Hawks lone run came in the top of the sixth when Julia Gilbert scored from second on a RBI single by Rudi Summers.

“It was tough to lose this game,” Julia Gilbert told Northland Sports Online. “We worked so hard to get back here and to not repeat as champions hurts a little right now. It has been such a fun last few years playing softball; it’s hard to see it end.” Gilbert will be attending St. Cloud next season where she will play hockey for the Huskies.

The loss ends Hermantown’s season with a record of 25-5 overall and the third time in school history that Hermantown placed as state runners-up. Step Thun had one of the five Hawk hits, while Gilbert and Summers each had two in the loss.

NSO would like to congratulate head Coach Tom Bang and his coaching staff on a fine season. The Hawks will graduate seven seniors; Megan Mullen, Ellen Folman, Julia Gilbert, Hannah Buchite, Rudi Summers, Olivia Carlson, and Step Thun. NSO would like to wish all the continued success to the seven graduates.

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at dwight@northlandsportsonline.com