Fight to the finish: Rebels come back to win eight-inning thriller on walk-off HR

Published 7:53 pm Wednesday, May 21, 2025

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ROSE CREEK – The rain was just beginning to fall as Southland sophomore Laney Weis held the game ball and let loose a small grin.

Weis and the Rebels had just pulled off their most improbable victory yet and it came on her first ever walk-off homer as the Southland pitcher used her bat to give No. 4 seeded Southland an 11-8 win in eight innings over No. 5 Lewiston Altura in a Section 1A quarterfinal Wednesday.

Weis was facing an 0-2 count with two outs and two runners on when she let loose and hammered a pitch over the center field fence for a three-run dinger to end the game.

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“I was just trying to get a single,” said Weis, whose Rebels had trailed 8-4 in the sixth inning. “We just never gave up. We really fought and we had to prove we could beat them.”

The Rebels eighth inning rally started when Shannon Kiefer drew a lead-off walk and Riana Ulven put down a bunt single.

Southland pulled to within 8-5 when Riana Ulven grounded out to knock in a run in the sixth, but it made its big rally in the seventh when Haylee Lowe launched a lead-off homer to right field, right after she had heard from her coaches about a throwing error she had made in the sixth. 

“I was just trying to get on base,” Lowe said. “I knew we needed some runs. This was such a big win for our team.”

After Lowe’s homer, Kiley Koenigs singled in a run and she scored on a sacrifice fly by Kiley Koenigs to tie the game.

The Cardinals (10-11 overall) showed some power of their own in the game as Hailey Larson hit a three-run homer in the second inning, and Lavin Lelune added a solo homer.

The Rebels (17-5 overall) will now play No. 1 Faribault Bethlehem Academy or No. 9 Goodhue in Todd Park at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. Southland has been this far before, but this time the team has a lot more experience on its side.

“We see the importance of the tournament,” Weis said. “It’s more than just another game and we have to be ready.”

LA 0 3 0  0 1 4  0 0  –    8  8  2

Southland 2 2 0  0 0 1  3 3  –  11  9  1

Southland pitching: Laney Weis (W) 8 IP, 8 H, 8 BB, 7 ER, 2 K, 1 HBP

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