Mariners softball advances to section finals

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Silver Bay got revenge against Nashwauk-Keewatin Tuesday in a huge win for the Mariners softball program.

In the Final Four game for Section 7A, the Mariners came out on top 5-0 to face Cherry-Cotton Thursday at 4 and possibly a game at 6 p.m. at Braun Park in Cloquet.

Last season, Silver Bay lost in the Section 7A quarterfinals to Nashwauk-Keewatin in 10 innings.

“We played a heck of a ball game,” said head coach Mike Guzzo.

The Mariners scored their first run in the third when Kirstin Sandstrom got on base, stole second and Taylor Guzzo drove her in with an infield single.

In the fourth inning, Mariners’ star pitcher Sandstrom was knocked out of the game after a line drive drilled her in the shoulder.

Then Nikki Babbitt came in to pitch a stellar game allowing one hit.

Babbitt got into a jam in the fourth with runners on first and second with one out, but Katherine Michalski and Alexi Warnecke got her out of it turning a double play.

In the fifth inning, Babbitt knocked in Michalski . In the sixth, Katie Smedstad reached on an error and Guzzo and Biz Huss hit back to back triples. Michalski also had an RBI single.

“These kids know how to win,” Guzzo said.

To get to this point, the Mariners had to battle some tough opponents in the playoffs.

Last Tuesday, the Mariners defeated Hill City 10-0.

Sandstrom got the win striking out four. She also went 3-for-4 and Guzzo went 1-for-2 with four RBIs. Michalski went 3-for-3 and Jessica Solberg went 2-for-2.

Last Thursday, the Mariners defeated Mesabi East 8-3 with Sandstrom getting the win once again.

The team jumped out to 7-0 lead after four innings and never looked back.

Helping Sandstrom was Kyla Thorne who made four fantastic defensive plays to hold Mesabi East at bay.

Sandstrom, Guzzo, Michalski, Solberg and Marina Carter each had two hits in the game.

In one of the Mariners’ Final Four games Tuesday, they lost to Cherry-Cotton 11-4.

The Mariners had a 4-1 lead, but the wheels came off due to errors.

Babbitt took the loss, but only allowed one earned run.

In the batters box, Babbitt, Warnecke and Carter each had two hits and Shay Viola added a hit of her own.

In the Mariners second game of the Final Four, they defeated Carlton 15-5.

Sandstrom got the win adding two hits and three RBIs to the team’s offensive output. Guzzo went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and Huss went 2-for-3 with two doubles.

Tags: high school sports, silver bay, sports, mariners