Sports
Burnsville Advances to Section 3AAA Championship
Blaze manage just a single hit, but still edge Park of Cottage Grove 2-1 to advance to the section softball finals
Burnsville managed just one hit, but rode the pitching of Kelsey Anderson and standout defense to a 2-1 win over Park of Cottage Grove Saturday in the semifinals of the section 3AAA tournament.
With the win, Burnsville will play in the Section 3AAA championship game Wednesday vs. the winner of the Jefferson/Park contest, staring at 3:30 pm.
The Blaze scratched across the first run of the game in the bottom of the first. Junior Dani Wolk reached on a dropped third strike and ninth grader Kelly Grove followed with a walk. With runners on first and second and one out, senior Megan Lehnen hit a ground ball that resulted in Wolk scoring.
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In the bottom of the second, Burnsville again had runners in scoring position but couldn't score.
The score remained 1-0 until the top of the sixth when Park hit a solo home run.
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In the bottom of the sixth Burnsville answered. Lehnen led off with a walk and pinch runner Erica Belter took her place at first. Senior Lauren Smith knocked a base hit to right field to get Belter to third. Sophomore Megan Threlkeld hit a ball to short and Belter scored on a fielder's choice.
Senior Kelsey Anderson won her 70th career game, striking out eight, allowing six hits and one earned run. Her ERA is 0.26 in the section tournament.
Game notes: Megan Lehnen in three section games: .444 avg., 4 RBI; Megan Threlkeld in three section games: .364 avg., 2 RBI.
Score 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Park 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 -- 1 6 2
Burnsville 1 0 0 0 0 1 x -- 2 1 0