The Cardinals played in the Section 3AA championship Thursday, June 2, against the Pipestone Area Arrows, who ended Luverne’s season in four innings, 15-0.
LHS was unable to score any runs. Anika Boll, Kendall Buss and Belle Smidt had the only hits for the Cardinals, who were unable to catch a break during the game.
The Cardinal batters hit the ball hard; they just could not find a gap.
Pipestone Area went on a hitting spree in the first inning and scored 13 runs.
The Cardinals held them to no runs in the second and one run in the third.
But the Arrows were able to plate the last run needed in the fourth to end the game early.
The Cardinal softball team, under head coach Brooks Maurer and assistant coaches JJ Olson and Tara Sudenga, finished the season with a 20-5 record.
This was the second time in four years the Cardinals competed in the section championship. Luverne had another record-breaking season and just fell short of the state tournament.
Gracie Nath threw all four innings, allowing 15 runs on 14 hits. Nath walked two and struck out two.
Box score AB R H RBI
B Connell 2 0 0 0
P Behr 2 0 0 0
C Olson 2 0 0 0
R Bork 2 0 0 0
K Buss 2 0 1 0
A Boll 2 0 1 0
B Smidt 1 0 1 0
J Smith 1 0 0 0
E Reisdorfer 1 0 0 0