Chatfield Upends Z-M, Falls To Cotter In Section Softball

The Chatfield Gophers found their backs against the wall Tuesday evening at Todd Park in Austin. The Gophers had the tall task of taking on the #3 ranked team in the state in Zumbrota-Mazzepa to advance in the Section 1AA Softball Tournament.

The Gophers were able to get two runs in the first and never look back to knock off Z-M 5-1 in the first elimination game of the day. Chatfield then had to take on #2 ranked Cotter in the second elimination game and came up just short, falling 2-0.

In the game one of the day the Gophers got a lead-off double from Lexi Chase, then Teagan Allen reached on a Z-M error. Alanna Goetzinger then smacked a two-out, two-RBI single to give the Gophers a 2-0 lead.

The Cougars got one back in the first on a lead-off solo home run off the bat of Avery Steffen to cut the lead the half. From there, Lexi Chase was great in the circle, retiring the next 15 Cougar hitters and struck out 10.

The Gophers added another run the fifth on an RBI single from Peyton Berg and added two more insurance runs in the seventh to get a 5-1 lead and win.

The took Chatfield to battle Cotter for the right to go to the Section Championship game. The Ramblers and Gophers were scoreless four innings, then the Ramblers struck for two runs when Tiegan Mancuso hit an RBI single to give Cotter a 2-0 win and the right to advance to the Section Championship game.