Masessa Jacks One To Give The Jacks A Dramatic Win

Carley Cadewll – for-NSO

Click here for the Cloquet vs. Mound-Westonka box score

Click here for the Cloquet vs. St. Anthony Village box score

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June 7, 2012

Dwight Cadwell-NSO

NORTH MANKATO- Kayla Masessa, a senior outfielder for the Cloquet Lumberjacks summed it up best when she said “This was the greatest thrill of my life.” Masessa delivered a two out, three run home run to give the Cloquet Lumberjacks a 4-3 walk-off win over Mound-Westonka Thursday afternoon in the quarterfinals of the girls state softball tournament.

Cloquet entered the bottom of the seventh inning trailing by a score of 3-1 and a rally was needed or the hopes of Cloquet advancing to the semi-finals. The Lumberjacks led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a walk to Alyssa Michaelson; and after a single by Chandler Beaupre, the Lumberjacks had a rally going. Breanne Baker pinch ran for Michaelson and Katrina Smith for Beaupre as Cloquet had no outs and a chance to put some runs on the board.

Sammy Zeadow, the next batter lined a bunt attempt to the third baseman and there was one out. A strikeout to Jade Benko was next and Cloquet was down to their final out when Masessa stepped up to the plate. Wasting no time, Masessa hit the first pitch over the left center field fence for the game winning home run; and a 4-3 walk-off victory in the most dramatic of fashion.

“I didn’t think it was over at first” stated Masessa. I thought it was a ground rule double, but then I saw Coach Tondryk jumping up and down and I knew it was a home run.” Baker and Smith scored before Masessa, who was swarmed upon at home plate.

“What a win” Head Coach Ron Tondryk stated in an interview with Northland Sports Online. “We were nervous in the beginning and made some mistakes, but we battled back and we proved we belong here. I am so proud of all the girls.”

The Lumberjacks finished the game with seven hits overall, including two by senior shortstop Dalyce Gustafson. Gustafson scored the Lumberjacks first run in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game at 1-1 at that point. Kelly Carlson, Lizz Jezierski, and Jade Benko had the other hits for Cloquet. Beaupre was the winning pitcher, allowing four hits, three runs, and two earned runs, while striking out four and walking only three batters.

In the Semi-Finals, the Lumberjacks failed to mount an attack against St. Anthony Village until the bottom of the seventh. Cloquet trailed 3-0 entering the inning the Lumberjacks got RBI base hits from both Beaupre and catcher Jade Benko cutting the lead to 3-2 and Masessa coming to the plate.

Apparently the St. Anthony Village coaching staff remembered what Masessa did in the earlier game so they elected to walk her and fill the bases, which also gave them a force out at any base with two outs. Number two hitter, Kelly Carlson, then struck out to end the game as the Jacks dropped a 3-2 game which puts them in the third place game at 11am on Friday.

Gustafson added a double for her second straight game, but the Jacks chance of another miracle finish came up just short.

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at dwight@northlandsportsonline.com