Rampage U12 Continuing its Success

Dwight Cadwell-NSO

Photos Contributed

The Twin Ports Rampage U12 Team continues to have an outstanding summer softball season as the Rampage finished as runners up last weekend in the Class A NAFA National tournament in Eagan Minnesota.

The Rampage opened up pool play on Thursday with wins over the Lakeville Lighting by a score of 11-0. That was followed by another victory over Maple Grove by a score of 11-3. Friday saw the Rampage defeat North St. Paul by a score of 8-5.

The Rampage then started bracket play with 8-0 shutout victory over the South Dakota Renegades. The Rampage then lost in bracket play to Stillwater by the score of 4-2, which sent the Rampage on a long route back through the losers bracket in the double elimination tournament.

The Rampage started the long road back as they beat Shakopee 7-1, which set up a long Sunday for the Rampage. They opened with a 2-1 win over Eagan, then it was a 5-3 victory over the Detroit Vipers, and a 5-1 win over Farmington.

The Rampage then had to come from behind as a walk of hit provided to be the game winners as the Rampage beat the Sioux Falls Steel 4-3. The win over the Steel put the Rampage in the championship game as they once again faced Stillwater, and it was Stillwater topping the Rampage with a 12-2 win for the Northern National Tournament.

The Rampage also won the Tier 1 MMFL State Tournament in Shakopee on July 12th-13th. The Rampage entering the State Tournament unranked went through the tournament picking up victories over the states top two 12U ranked teams.

The Rampage won four straight games picking up wins over Champlin Park, Mankato, Forrest Lake, and Bloomington. The Rampage lost in the Championship game to Shakopee but defeated them in a rematch as Shakopee came form the losers bracket and it was a 6-1 that gave the Rampage the state championship.

The tournament started with 232 teams two weeks ago that played in state qualifiers. The field was narrowed down into 9 tiers and you were sent to a tier 1-9 depending on how teams did in those qualifiers.

There were 162 teams left after qualifiers and the top 16 went to tier #1 to complete for the state championship. If you were in tiers 2-9 you could win a tier but not state.

Bloomington was the Cinderella of the tournament. They were the last team in and had upset wins in their first three games. But, the clock struck midnight on Cinderella when they played the Rampage!
Members of the Rampage U12 team are, #4 Hannah Mihalik, #5 Peyton Fath, #7 Mackenzie Lehto, #8 Madison Sislo, #9 Paige Lach, #13 Gabby Blomdahl, #15 Kylie Rajala, #18 Mady Stariha, #19 Hayley Spradau, #21 Mackenzie Corell, and #33 Erica Eller.

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at dwight@northlandsportsonline.com