MACA striving to conquer southern Minnesota!

Business as usual for the MACA softball team, a 22-3 record as we get set for the most serious phase of post-season. If only such a record would be a more-or-less guarantee of making state! We have learned it is far from it. I write here once again that when we come up against the southern Minnesota teams, it's a whole new ballgame as it were. 

Does the "sub-section" even exist? Man, I almost missed seeing the upcoming post-season game notes on "Minnesota Scores" this morning. You have to scroll down quite a ways from the regular season to find the new info. Scroll down through some pictures in fact. Fortunately I did a thorough check. And so I see the 3AA action is already underway. 

I actually do not see "sub-section" specified anywhere. I know there has been a sub-section level over the recent past. If I remember correctly it is a very short phase, like two games both played here in Motown. Looks like this year there's maybe just one. Wait a minute, a bye for the Tigers? 

The Tigers played their one game and it was Tuesday at home. And so the Tigers dispatched Litchfield in a manner that reflected the one-sided nature of the regular season. Yawn, the Tigers took care of business shutout-style at our softball place. I hope the Litch fans were advised to bring their own chairs for viewing. If you don't, be prepared to stand. 

Maybe we need a new softball facility in Morris. The Tigers downed the Dragons 9-0. "Another day at the office." 

 

Next foe: Pipestone 

So now what beckons? Well holy cow, it's a game against one of those southern Minnesota nemesis teams. And that would be Pipestone Area. Past is not necessarily precedent. It would not have to be. So who really knows what the outcome will be on Saturday, May 23. And once again, MACA fans are being asked to make the long trip to Marshall for sectionals, just like in other sports. I'm sure this cuts down on the number of fans who elect to watch in-person. 

Sorry to say I have never gone to Marshall for high school games. And I've been around. MACA got stuck in this situation back when the post-season got organized into the sub-section and section. This replaced district and region. Looks like it could be permanent. 

Well I'll stay here in Morris. But I do enjoy writing about the Tigers when I can. I was quoting Mary Holmberg as far back as 1979 when the program started. I'll take Wells Park over the softball complex anytime. 

The Tigers played Litchfield on May 16 in a home tournament. We were fortunate to win that contest as the score was 9-8. So we scored the same number of runs against the Dragons on Tuesday, but this time we got a shutout pitching performance. Also on May 16, we defeated Alexandria and Grand Rapids.

 

Coach Mary Holmberg has been "the rock" with the Tiger softball program! She got it all going. The image you see at left is from the KMES-KKOK site. Holmberg has reached the incredible 700-win plateau as a coach. Compare her to the Energizer Bunny maybe?

 

Tigers 9, Litchfield 0

Well, another showcase for MACA pitcher Haley Kill as the Tigers turned back the Dragons. On this day Kill tossed a 3-hitter against the green-themed crew. She set down ten batters on strikes. And at bat, this Tiger had three hits. She crossed home plate twice and drove in two runs. 

We took our first steps toward victory with a three-run first inning. The Tigers played errorless ball. The line score: nine runs, eight hits and the zero errors. Pretty sharp play. 

Addie Cihak is my neighbor so I'll acknowledge at the start that she drove in two tuns. Keep it up Addie! 

I need to be able to keep my discipline and type "Harmony Coverdale" and not "Cloverdale." Harmony Coverdale had a hit and a run scored. Aina Rose went two-for-three plus she was HBP. She scored two runs. 

Samantha Konz got on via HBP. Ryla Koehler had a run scored and an RBI. Mia Lu Asche socked a triple. She drew a walk, scored a run and drove in one. Kill was three-for-four, scored two runs and drove in two. Nora Boyle doubled, scored a run and drove in one. Brenna Jergenson walked and scored a run. Lots of highlights across the board for the orange and black.

 

Coming up: Tigers vs. Pipestone Area on Saturday at Marshall, 11:30 a.m.

(Marshall is too cotton pickin' far away, IMHO.) 

A feline lover too! Coach Holmberg w/ "Coco," from Facebook. I'm jealous of Mary because I am not even allowed on Facebook. I have violated "community standards" probably because of my criticism of Israel.

- Brian Willliams - morris mn minnesota - musicstuff54@gmail.com