Staff photo by Steve Muscatello Sarah Mohr (left), Kenzie Hose, Lauryn Franta (jumping) Brooke Landreville (center) and Jenna Helget of New Ulm Cathedral celebrate after defeating Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s in the Section 2A championship game Friday at Caswell Park in North Mankato.

NORTH MANKATO — The New Ulm Cathedral softball team punched their ticket to the 2018 State tournament with an 11-1, five inning win defeating Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s in the Section 2A championship game on Friday night.

The Greyhounds (19-2) were undefeated in the tournament, outscoring their opponents 30-7 in the Section 2A playoff bracket.

Cathedral will continue its season with a 1 p.m. game on Thursday at Caswell Park in North Mankato.

“Three days ago, I had win 800 and this is the best one in a long, long time. I will take win 801 before that 800,” Cathedral co-head coach Bob Mertz said. “We scored in every inning, all the way to the bottom of the order. This is really a big win for our program.”

The Greyhounds played an all-around phenomenal game with a strong nod towards a defensive effort that kept the Knights (21-3) from advancing into scoring position. St. Mary’s had just one hit in the final four innings of the ball game.

“We are getting hot at the right time and are really excited going into state — now I can say that,” co-head coach Jamie Portner said. “We just had a good feeling and knew this team could do it.”

Offensively, the Greyhounds put runners across the plate in several situations as the bats got hotter and bracket got smaller. This was the second game consecutively the Greyhounds have tallied a hit from all batters in the lineup.

Josie Pautzke got the win from the circle, throwing five innings with three strikeouts. She gave up five hits and only walked one batter.

The Knights scored their only run in the top half of the first inning on a solo shot from Jody Hansen. Dani Weiss led off the inning with a first pitch base hit to get things started for the Knights.

Cathedral catcher Rose Hazuka then reached up and grabbed a short pop-up and in one motion fired to first base to double up Weiss for the first two outs of the inning.

“I am just completely overwhelmed with a whole lot of joy,” Hazuka said of the win. “I have been personally waiting four years for this, it has been a team effort all season.”

Hansen’s homer to straight away left came on a 2-1 count. The Knights continued to threaten in the inning by filling the bases with hits from Ali Beltz and Mallory Helget, followed by a walk to Cassie Heinrichs.

The Knights looked to strike big in their half of the first as Pautzke seemed to be rattled on the pitching rubber before she threw a four-pitch strikeout to end the inning for the Greyhounds.

On the opposing side of the field, St. Mary’s pitcher Leah Weiss took the loss as the starter, pitching three innings and allowing eight runs in her work.

“Leah has worked hard and she has grown through this season, definitely having the opportunity to grow in the circle and learn the game,” Knights head coach Wendy Owens said.

Weiss’ quality start clashed with the heavy hitters from Cathedral as her pitches showed life in the early innings of the game.

Cathedral put three runners across in the bottom of the first inning off three hits and a walk. Sarah Mohr’s leadoff single got things moving for the Greyhounds.

Mohr was advanced on a sacrificed bunt by Jenna Helget. Cathedral’s Pautzke singled and Hazuka walked as the Greyhounds filled the bases with only one out.

Lily Franta one-hopped the fence in left center for the two-RBI ground rule double to bring the games tying and winning run across still with one out in the bottom of the first inning. Heidi Hoffman hit into a fielders choice to bring in the insurance run for the second out of the inning.

“This is a lot of excitement for all of us,” Cathedral infielder Jenna Helget said. “Coming into this season, we were in the gym a lot waiting to get outside, but I really think being in the gym helped us with our fundamentals. It is really showing now, later in playoffs, we are all getting our bats going through out the whole lineup.”

St. Mary’s tried to build in the third inning when Hansen reached on the Knights’ only other hit of the game. Ali Beltz hit a solid line drive into straight away right, forcing Cathedral’s Brooke Landreville to look over her shoulder trying to track the ball with the homerun fence rapidly approaching. Landreville tracked the ball, reached up and made the play while her feet never stopped moving, saving at least one run.

Mohr also had a stellar night from the shortstop position, making plays while moving away from first base while also being able to set and make the throw to first against the speedy St. Mary’s ball team.