The stage is set for two ranked teams to meet in the finals of the Section 1A West Sub-Section Softball Tournament.

Sixth-ranked Lyle/Pacelli and 10th-rated Blooming Prairie won easily in their sub-section semifinal games Saturday morning at Todd Park in Austin to move into Wednesday's championship match. Lyle/Pacelli -- the top-seed -- didn't play its best game while beating Randolph 7-2, but Blooming Prairie broke out the bats with 16 hits in a 14-2, five-inning win over Southland.

"The girls hit the ball hard today, it's a good time for us to break out," said Blooming Prairie coach Chad Gimbel. "We kind of knew Lyle/Pacelli would be there (the finals), and we were hoping we'd be there. It should be fun."

Lyle/Pacelli and Blooming Prairie meet in Wednesday's championship match at 4 p.m. at Todd Park. The loser falls into the losers' bracket and will have to defend second place against either Southland or Randolph. The Lady Rebels of Southland won their comebacker against Goodhue, 12-2 in five innings, while Randolph routed LeRoy-Ostrander/Grand Meadow in five innings as well.

"It's nice to know you can play that well and still win," L/P coach Tom Clements said of his team's 7-2 rout of Randolph. "I'm just glad we don't play all of our games in the morning.

"We're going to have to play better than we did today to beat Blooming Prairie, but I think the girls are up to it."

Amy Bickler struck out 10, walked an uncharacteristic three, and allowed six hits. Both Randolph runs were earned. The Rockets' No. 9 hitter, Cathy May, drove in their first run in the third inning with a triple to right, and scored on an ensuing single by Kim Ellefson.

Lyle/Pacelli led 6-0 before Randolph's two-run rally, led by a five-run second inning. Kelsey Sampson drove in a run with a squeeze bunt, and both she and Taryn Emery came around on Rocket errors. Brianna Enfield, who finished the day 2-3, drove in Bickler with a double to right-center.

L/P leadoff hitter Louise Mudra led the team with a 4-4 plate performance, reaching all four times on bunt singles.

Blossoms get 16 hits

Blooming Prairie pieced together 16 hits in their 14-2, five-inning defeat of Southland. Abbey Bergstrom, Rachel Stenzel and Amber Vogt each had three hits, while Maggie Romeo, Amanda Herdina and Hilary Jones had two each.

Bergstrom was a home run shy of hitting for the cycle. Her 3-4 plate performance was highlighted by an RBI-double in the Blossoms' eight-run third inning, and a two-run triple in the fourth. Herdina also drove in four runs, while Romeo reached base in all four plate appearances.

In addition to a bountiful day at the plate, Bergstrom struck out 10 and walked none in the pitching victory. Her only mistake of the day was turned around by Southland's Allison Chapek, who drove in the Rebels' first run with a triple in the fourth.

Five errors sealed Southland's fate. Bergstrom allowed only four hits and her defense made only one error. Amy Walerak was the losing pitcher, giving up four runs in two innings. Michelle Landherr and Cassie Olson each pitched an inning as well.

LOGM gets first win

LeRoy-Ostrander/Grand Meadow netted its first win of the season with a 15-3, five-inning rout of Medford in the consolation first round Saturday morning in Austin. LOGM (1-17) was eventually eliminated by Randolph in Saturday's consolation quarterfinal round.

Call Ross Thede at 434-2234 or e-mail him at :mailto:sports@austindailyherald.com.

Thursday, May 16

First round

(1) Lyle/Pacelli receives bye

(4) Randolph 14, (5) Goodhue 13 in 8 innings

(3) Southland 10, (6) Medford 0 in six innings

(2) Blooming Prairie 11, (7) LOGM 0 in 5 innings

Saturday

Semifinals

Lyle/Pacelli 7, Randolph 2

Blooming Prairie 14, Southland 2 in 5 innings

Consolation first round

Goodhue receives bye

LOGM 15, Medford 3 in 5 innings

Consolation quarterfinals

Randolph def. LOGM

Southland 12, Goodhue 2 in 5 innings

Wednesday, May 22

Championship

Lyle/Pacelli vs. Blooming Prairie, 4 p.m.

Consolation semifinals

Randolph vs. Southland, 4 p.m.

Consolation finals

Randolph/Southland winner vs. Lyle/Pacelli/Blooming Prairie loser, 6 p.m.

*all games played at the

Todd Park Softball Complex's North Diamonds