Cloquet Girls Capture Third Place At State

Carley Cadwell-For NSO

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June 8, 2012

Dwight Cadwell-NSO

NORTH MANKATO- The Cloquet Lumberjacks used timely hitting as the Lumberjacks bested Maple River the Minnesota State Class AA third place game Friday at Caswell Park in North Mankato. Cloquet came from behind to beat the Eagles by a score of 8-3 and finish on a winning note capturing third place in the 2012 Class AA state softball tournament.

The Lumberjacks, who spent much of the tournament trailing in their first two games, found themselves trailing 1-0 going into the bottom of the first inning, Kelly Carlson picked up the first of her three hits on the day and came in to score on a single from Lizz Jezierski. Dalyce Gustafson also scored on an error by the Eagles and the Lumberjacks led 2-1 after one inning.

The Lumberjacks held the lead until the top of the third inning when the Eagles scored two unearned runs to put Maple River in front by a score of 3-2. The Lumberjacks rebounded in the bottom of the fourth inning when Cloquet scored four runs in the inning with the big blow coming from Shania Paulson’s bases clearing double, which put Cloquet in front to stay at 6-3.

Paulson’s double brought in Kayla Masessa, Kelly Carlson, and Dalyce Gustafson. Breanne Baker had scored the game tying run before the Paulson double. “I was so excited to get that hit and drive in the runs,” Paulson told Northland Sports Online. “I had been in a slump here at the tournament but I was just happy to get the hit to help my team. I was screaming so hard after we took the lead.”

Cloquet added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and with an 8-3 lead and the momentum in their favor, the Eagles of Maple River never posed another threat as the Lumberjacks capture third place and a trophy for the Cloquet trophy case. Cloquet Head Coach Ron Tondryk told NSO “It was a special tournament with a special team and these girls dissevered all the credit for what they accomplished.”

Tondryk added “When we got on the bus today, the girls could have been down and not ready to go after the heartbreaking loss late Thursday; but these girls just said, that game is done and we are ready to play and they showed that today.” Tondryk mentioned “These kids are ready to play day after day and they deserved it.”

The Lumberjacks finished with 11 hits in the victory and Kelly Carlson told NSO “What a great time for us to explode offensively, we wanted this game and it’s such an amazing feeling to be here and to win this game.” Carlson added about the seniors “We have played with each other so long it’s sad to know it’s done, but what a way to go out!.”

Northland Sports Online would like to congratulate Ron Tondryk, his coaching staff, and all the members of the 2012 girls softball team on an outstanding season and a third place finish in the state tournament. And as Carlson stated, “What a way to go out.”

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at dwight@northlandsportsonline.com