×

Kettner crushes, Raiders hold off Falcons in 2A playoffs

Staff photo by Travis Rosenau Nicollet’s Sam Kettner rounds the bases after a two-run homer in the first inning of a Section 2A Softball Tournament game against Red Rock Central/Westbrook-Walnut Grove on Tuesday at Nicollet High School.

NICOLLET — It’s not the the first time Nicollet’s Sam Ketter has homered this season, but her home run on Tuesday at Nicollet High School was her most important one so far.

Kettner’s two-run home run to center field in the first inning sparked the No. 8-seeded Raiders to a 6-3 win over No. 9-seeded Red Rock Central/Westbrook-Walnut Grove in the first round of the Section 2A Softball Tournament.

The win over the Falcons moves the Raiders on to a second-round meeting with top-seeded Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s in Sleepy Eye on Thursday.

Kettner finished the day going 2 for 2 with an RBI double in the fifth on top of her homer and an intentional walk in the third.

The two-out home run, her sixth of the season, brought home Brooklyn Bode, who walked and finished the day 1 for 2 with an RBI and two walks.

“I was not expecting it at all,” Kettner said. “I was kind of just hoping to get a hit and our first few [at-bats] were kind of iffy, so I was just hoping to kind of get something going, and after that I feel like we kind of got more excited and everything.”

Leah Bode was 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI also for the Raiders, while Tori Adams was 2 for 3.

Emma Drill got the win in all seven innings, allowing 14 hits and two walks for two earned runs. She struck out two.

Addeson Jenniges took the loss for the Falcons, allowing eight hits and three walks for five earned runs while striking out two.

Ella Erickson was 3 for 4 with an RBI to lead the Falcons at the plate, while Chloe Ramthun was 3 for 4, Natalie Wahl was 3 for 5 and Isabella Rentschler was 2 for 4 with an RBI.

While the Falcons racked up the hits, the Raiders’ defense was sharp for most of the game and committed just two errors. In the second inning and with the Falcons threatening to score on a hit to left field by Wahl, Leah Bode rifled a throw in to catcher Jasmine Wilking to get Erickson out at home for the third out.

The Falcons also left the bases full in the fourth inning. In the bottom of the fourth, however, the Raiders pushed another run across on an RBI single to center by Morgan Arndt that scored Adams.

RRC/WWG got that run back in the fifth after an error allowed Rentschler to reach and later score on an RBI single by Erickson. Kettner doubled in Brooklyn Bode in the bottom of the inning before Leah Bode singled in Kettner from second for a 5-1 Nicollet lead.

The Falcons got two runs back in the sixth on RBI singles from Mercedes Myers and Rentschler, but the Raiders got an RBI single by Brooklyn Bode in the bottom of the inning to lead 6-3. That single came with two runners on, however, and the Falcons ended up getting the second runner out at home before throwing to third to tag a sliding Brooklyn Bode out and end the inning.

After Erickson reached to lead off the bottom of the seventh on an obstruction call at first base, she was advanced to second on a groundout and made it to third on a wild pitch. After a popout, a ground ball by Ramthun was picked up close to home plate, leading Erickson to get caught in a rundown between third and home before being tagged out to end the game.

Kettner, who was one of several players to have her position shuffled this season after manning left field last year, was proud of the team’s defensive effort on Tuesday.

“I think today was one of our greatest games, honestly, defensively, and I’m just really proud of Emma for pitching good,” Kettner said. “I just kind of trust people now, I know where the ball’s going and I know that I can trust them to get it and not be worried that I’m not out in left getting it. I trust Leah to get it or Brooklyn to get it or anybody really.”

The win also guarantees the Raiders will return to Caswell Park in North Mankato to play Saturday, a year after winning the Class A state title there. If the Raiders can knock off the unbeaten Knights on Thursday, they will play in the winner’s bracket on Saturday. A loss drops them to the elimination bracket.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper?
   

Starting at $4.38/week.

Subscribe Today