The Crookston Pirate Softball team was supposed to wrap up their regular season this afternoon with a doubleheader against East Grand Forks and the Northern Freeze. Due to rain and wind, the game against EGF was canceled, however, the Pirates were able to play their game later in the day against the Freeze. The weather was less than ideal, but both teams provided an excellent softball game, with the Freeze using two big innings to get the win 8-7 over the Pirates. “I am very proud of the girls and I thought they played very hard today.” said Pirates Head Coach Sunny Bowman.”
The Freeze wasted no time getting in front in the top of the first hitter with the first three hitters reaching base on a double, walk, and Pirates error. The next Freeze hitter drove a single to right field and the Pirates had a tough time throughout the inning securing the softball. When it was all said and done, the Freeze had taken a 3-0 lead heading into the bottom of the first.Â
Crookston would go 1-2-3 in the bottom of the first inning, but Jenna Coauette would get a 1-2-3 of her own on the mound in the top of the second inning keeping the deficit at 3-0 after the top of the second.
The Pirates would get on the board in the bottom of the second inning scoring four runs to reclaim the lead after two innings of play. Coauette and Reese Swanson would both reach base to start the inning and after a flyout, Cassie Solheim and Aleah Bienek would both reach scoring a pair of runs, and both would eventually come around to score themselves and give Crookston a 4-3 lead. “When we did have success at the plate it was because we worked really hard in our at-bats,” said Pirates Head Coach Sunny Bowman. “We took good at-bats and were patient at the plate, and when we struggled to score it was because we didn’t have that patience.”
After the Freeze would once again go 1-2-3 in the third inning, Crookston would tack on another run to take a 5-3 lead after three innings of play. Both teams would go scoreless in the fourth inning and the Freeze would then reclaim the lead in the top of the fifth. The first five hitters would all reach base for the Freeze and come around to score and they would take an 8-5 lead off of the big inning. “All season the thing that has haunted us is the big inning,” said Pirates Head Coach Sunny Bowman. “We gave up another one in this game today and that ended up being the difference.”
The Pirates would get one run back in the bottom of the fifth inning when Ally Perreault hit a leadoff double and came around to score. Coauette wouldn’t allow a run the rest of the game, and after the Pirates were able to score another run in the bottom of the sixth when Reese Swanson reached base and came around to score, Crookston found themselves down 8-7 heading into the bottom of the seventh.
The Pirates would need at least 1 run to keep the game going. Unfortunately, it was a quick inning, as the Pirates went down in order 1-2-3 giving the Freeze the 8-7 victory.
Crookston finishes the regular season with a final record of 1-11. They will now prepare for the Section 8AA Tournament which will begin next Tuesday, May 24, with the Play in round.
For Crookston –
Reese Swanson 2 for 2, HBP, 3 runs, rbi
Ally Perreault 2 for 4, run
Cassie Solheim 1 for 3, run, BB
For Northern Freeze –
Rhiannon 2 for 4, run
Brooke 1 for 3, 2 runs, BB
Kieran 1 for 3, BB
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
| Northern Freeze | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 1 |
| Crookston | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 3 |
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
| Jenna Coauette- Crookston | 7 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 4 |
| Kaydence- Northern Freeze | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 5 |
The Agassiz Valley All-Conference Awards for the 2022 season was also announced this evening, and below is the list.
Agassiz Valley Coach of the Year: Ben Hanson, Red Lake Falls
Agassiz Valley Player of the Year: Jacey Wojchowski, BGMR
Agassiz Valley Broadcaster Recognition: “Sports Wayne” Wayne Rahlf
The All-Conference Team
The All-Conference Team:
Justine Vonasek    Roseau
Rebecca Wensloff   Roseau
Emilie Johnson     Roseau
Haley Vonasek      Sacred Heart
Jenna Coauette     Crookston
Josie Rivard        West Marshall
Karlee Walsh       East Grand Forks
Rhiannon Horien    Northern Freeze
Reese Rustad      Northern Freeze
Olivia Hawkins     Thief River Falls
Abby Flaagan      Thief River Falls
Carlie Rogalla      Thief River Falls
Madison Lavergne   Warroad
Abby Chamernick   Warroad
Bella Amiot        Red Lake Falls
Gabby Casavan     Red Lake Falls
Jayden Breiland    Red Lake Falls
Alexis Cota        Red Lake Falls
Kinsley Hanson     BGMR
Jacey Wojchowski  BGMR
Theron Kuznia      BGMR
The Honorable Mention Team:
Cassie Dahl        BGMR
Emily Bowman      Crookston
Kendra Emery      East Grand Forks
Brooke Glad        Northern Freeze
Quinnlyn Kenfield   Red Lake Falls
Payton Remick      Roseau        Â
Grace Loeslie       Sacred Heart
Olivia Tougas       Thief River Falls
Marey Kazmierczak  West Marshall
Kerigan Furuseth    Warroad
