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Pioneers Thump Dakota County in Region XIII Playoff

Pioneers Thump Dakota County in Region XIII Playoff
Posted: May 05, 2023

Pioneers 13... Dakota County Tech 0 (5 Innings)

The MCC Pioneers didn't waste any time establishing dominance over Dakota County Tech on Thursday in the semifinal of the 2023 Region XIII Softball Tournament. MCC scored 4 runs in the 1st inning and never looked back in a quick 5-inning romp of the Blue Knights. 

SS Sierra John led the game off with a single and moved all the way to 3rd on an error by the Blue Knights leftfielder. RF Cassidy Bagnell promptly singled to drive in John. Bagnell stole 2nd and moved to 3rd on another error and was driven home on a single by CF Skylar Higgs. 1B Hazel Eaton continued her hot hitting with a 2-run home run for a 4-0 Pioneer lead. 

MCC got 2 more runs in the bottom of the 2nd as C HaiLeigh Davis led the inning off with a solo home run. John singled and moved to 3rd on a one out single by LF Liz Ybarra and then John scored on a double steal with Ybarra.  The Pioneers added another run in the 3rd when DH Megan Johnson was hit by a pitch and 3B Morgan Lampshire singled to put runners on the corners. 2B Shannon Nelson singled to drive in Johnson pushing a 7-0 lead. 

In the 4th inning, Ybarra singled and Higgs tripled to make the score 8-0. Hazel Eaton followed with a single that scored Higgs and Eaton moved to 3rd on an error. Megan Johnson followed with an RBI single and moved to 2nd on a passed ball and to 3rd on a dropped 3rd strike to Lampshire. Davis doubled to drive in Johnson and John ended the Pioneer scoring run iwth a 2-run home run to centerfield. 

The pitching combination of Madi Henry and Peyton Whitehead shut down the Blue Knights for the entirety of the contest. Henry got the start and pitched 3 innings (3 H, BB, 2 SO) and Whitehead finished the final 2 innings (2 H, BB, 3 SO). 

Inside the Box Score

  • DCTC had 4 errors in the game and the Pioneers had none.
  • MCC recorded 16 hits to 5 for the Blue Knights. 
  • Sierra John was 3-4 (HR, 2 RBI, 3 R). Ybarra, Higgs, Eaton, Lampshire, and Davis all had 2 hits. 

MCC will play Dawson Friday at 2:00 PM with the winner moving to the championship game.