Barnum Girls Advance To Softball Final Four

Wes Vork-NSO

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May 24

Wes Vork-NSO

BARNUM – It took a while for things to get going for the Barnum softball team in their Section 5A playoff game against McGregor on Tuesday night. Some errors and misplayed balls had the Bombers trailing 3-1 entering the bottom of the fourth inning, but they came alive and scored ten unanswered runs to win the game 13-3 against the Mercs.

Jessica Newman led off the bottom of the fourth with a single and that started a snowball effect in which the Bombers put on their hitting shoes and rapped out seven hits while scoring their eight runs. Newman scored twice in the inning and the entire line up gave pitcher Lauren Hultgren some room to work.

All-in-all Newman was a one person wrecking crew, finishing the game going 4 for 4 with two triples, a double, a single, three runs scored, and three RBI’s. Other leaders for the Bombers were Emily Thompson, who was 3 for 4, scored 2 runs, and added 3 rbi’s and MJ Anderson, who turned in a 2 for 3 performance including a double, 1 run scored, and an RBI.

“We’re figuring out our strengths and weaknesses and capitalizing on them. Our girls have been working together a lot better than at the beginning the year and we have been picking each other up when we get down.” Barnum Head Softball Coach Sarah Yrjanson told Northland Sports Online. “Our bats have continued to be strong and we’re staying aggressive on the bases.” Yrjanson added.

Barnum added four more runs in the sixth inning to put the game on ice and end it an inning early. Lauren Hultgren pitched all six innings to pick up the win, she allowed seven hits while striking out six and allowing two walks.

The Bombers will now travel to St. Cloud to play Isle in the first round of the double elimination portion of the Section 5 tournament on Thursday. On making a deep playoff run in her first year as head coach, Yrjanson is quick to pass the credit onto the girls. “What can I say? These girls have made the transition into the head coaching job very easy. We have fun, work hard, and learn from one another. It’s been an added perk that we have gone this far into playoffs.
We’re looking forward to tomorrow’s game against Isle.”

Wes Vork can be reached at wes@northlandsportsonline.com