Catching joy: Southland sophomore robs Hayfield of a hit to clinch elimination win

Published 4:01 pm Friday, May 23, 2025

By Rocky Hulne

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When a team is in a pinch, a speedy outfielder can be a pitcher’s best friend. So it was natural when Southland pitcher Laney Weis was the first one to greet fellow sophomore Grace Kresbach with a hug in the outfield after Kresbach hauled in a sprinting catch in left field to seal a 7-6 win for the No. 4 seeded Rebels over No. 7 Hayfield in a Section 1A elimination game in Todd Park Friday.

Hayfield (10-14 overall) put all of the pressure it could on the Rebels as Alexys Swygman drew a bases loaded walk and Kenna Selk was hit by a pitch to make it a one run game before Kresbach robbed Hayfield’s Kenna Rutledge of an extra base hit with her running catch.

“I honestly wasn’t thinking about the pressure,” said Kresbach, who also went three-for-four with an RBI. “I just wanted the win and I was going to do what it takes to get it.”

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Hayfield left the bases loaded in the sixth and seventh innings, as Southland padded its lead in the sixth, when senior Jaida Sorenson lined a two-out single to score a run. Southland seniors Riana Ulven and Abby Sorgatz each had two-out RBIs to put the Rebels up 6-3 in the fifth.

Sorgatz said the Southland seniors weren’t going to go out quietly.

“I was so scared (at the end),” Sorgatz said. “Then Grace comes out of nowhere and catches it. Oh my gosh, she just saved our season. I’m so excited to keep going now. It’s always stressful and you never know what’s going to happen in an elimination game.”

Southland (18-6 overall) never trailed in the game and it took the lead for good in the bottom of the third inning when Shannon Kiefer doubled in a run to make it 4-3. Rebel head coach Tom Clements said he has all the respect in the world for the Vikings. 

“Hayfield is a very, very good team and they play in a tough conference. I had them seeded higher than the rest of the section. Their lead-off hitter (Kenna Selk) is really tough and I was really happy to hear that she’s a senior. Their catcher (Nora Bamlet) is a rock star and the only one she can’t throw out is Grace, who I’m pretty sure is leading the state of Minnesota in straight steals,” Clements said. “I know (Kresbach) is the fastest player throughout Southern Minnesota and she’s got to be near the top of the state as well. Her defense is really coming along as well and it’s really nice to see a tenth grader step up like that.”

Hayfield co-head coach Travis Kaufman said that his team gave him all he could ask for in an elimination setting. 

“The message we’ve had for this team is “until they drag us off the field, we’re not done.” As you could see, every out (Southland) had to get, they earned,” Kaufman said. “We had three very loud outs and we almost scored three runs at the end. Kenna Rutledge, holy moly. It was inches. Heck of a play by their left fielder to do that. I’m super proud of the girls, they showed no ounce of quit.”

Southland will now play either No. 3 Wabasha-Kellogg or No. 9 Goodhue in another elimination game at Todd Park at 5 p.m. Tuesday. The Rebels would have to win four straight games to make it to the Class A state tournament.

Hayfield 0 1 2  0 0 1  2  –  6  10  1

Southland 1 2 1  0 2 1  X  –  7  12  2

Southland pitching: Laney Weis (W) 7 IP, 11 H, 4 BB, 6 R, 4 ER, 2 K

Southland hitting: Laney Weis, 1-for-3, double, RBI; Grace Kresbach, 3-for-4, RBI, 2 R, SB; Kiley Koenigs, 0-for-4; Clara Timm, 2-for-3, double, 2 R, BB; Jaida Sorenson, 1-for-4, RBI; Shannon Kiefer, 1-for-4, double, RBI; Riana Ulven, 1-for-2, RBI, 2 R, BB; Abby Sorgatz, 2-for-3, RBI; Haylee Lowe, 1-for-3

Hayfield pitching: Elaina Masching (L) 6 IP, 12 H, 2 BB, 6 R, 5 ER, 5 K

Hayfield hitting: Kenna Selk, 1-for-3, double, RBI, R, BB, HBP; Kenna Rutledge, 2-for-5, SB; Nora Bamlet, 0-for-4, R; Jenna Christopherson, 1-for-3, BB; Ella Bamlet, 2-for-3, RBI, R, BB; Melody Walker, 1-for-3, double, R; Betsy Gillette, 2-for-3, 2 RBIs, R; Jordyn Knudson, 1-for-4; Alexys Swygman, 1-for-3, SB, RBI, BB

 

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