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After the Wildcats lost their opening game in the section tournament, they won five games in a row to make it to the section championship game against Forest Lake. But a late rally against the Rangers fell short, and the Wildcats lost 5-3 to end their season on the brink of the state tournament. The Wildcats played three games last Wednesday, May 28 and the final game against Forest Lake on Thursday, May 29. All four of the games were played at St. Francis.

Chisago Lakes 11, Anoka 0 (5 innings)

Already sporting a 2-1 record heading into Wednesday's games, the Wildcats scored seven runs in the bottom of the first on their way to an 11-0 win over the Anoka Tornadoes to win their third game in a row and stay alive in the section tournament. The game was shortened to five innings because of the ten-run rule.

Amanda Houle led things off with a bang, homering over the center field fence to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead. Not to be outdone, Lisa Schommer hit a two-run homer later in the inning to increase the lead to 3-0. The Wildcats added to their seven-run outburst in the first with three more in the second. They added one more in the third to make the final score 11-0.

Ariel Novak had three hits, including a double. Ashley Oehme and Danielle Tossey each had two hits, including a double, and Tracy Schneider also chipped in with two hits. Rachel Nelson struck out seven and allowed four hits to pick up the win.

Chisago Lakes 10, Duluth Denfeld 0 (5 innings)

The Wildcats struggled a little to beat Denfeld last Saturday in an earlier round of the section tournament. But they got their bats going this time. The top five hitters in the Wildcat lineup went 11 for 17 and scored nine of the ten Wildcat runs as they beat Denfeld 10-0 in five innings to set up a matchup with Forest Lake in the next round of the tournament.

The Wildcats scored three runs in each of the third, fourth and fifth innings as they won by the ten-run rule for the second game in a row. Ariel Novak led the Wildcat hit parade, going 4-4 with two doubles and two RBIs. Ashley Oehme had two hits, including a double and also drove in two runs. Amanda Houle, Tracy Schneider and Mallory Schneider each had two hits apiece. Rachel Nelson struck out six and allowed two hits as she faced just one batter over the minimum.

Chisago Lakes 2, Forest Lake 1

Ariel Novak's two run homer to left center in the sixth inning broke a scoreless tie. Forest Lake homered to pull within one in the bottom of the seventh. But with two outs, Shannon Monson gunned down a Forest Lake batter trying to stretch a single into a double to end the game, giving the Wildcats a 2-1 win and sending them to Thursday's championship game against the Rangers.

The Wildcats squandered a great scoring opportunity in the third inning. Danielle Tossey walked to lead off the inning. Monson was hit by a pitch, and Amanda Houle single to load the bases with no outs. But the next batter grounded into a second to home to first double play. Ariel Novak was then hit by a pitch to re-load the bases, but the next batter struck out to end the inning.

Tracy Schneider singled to left to lead off the sixth for the Wildcats. Novak then stepped to the plate and blasted the ball over the left center field fence to put the Wildcats up 2-0.

After the Forest Lake batter homered to lead off the seventh, Nelson retired the next two batters on a fly out and a pop up. The next batter hit a ball deep enough into center field to chance trying for a double. But center fielder Monson cam up with a strong throw to nail the batter at second for the third out. The Wildcats' 2-1 victory gave Forest Lake their first loss in the tournament and set up the next day's rematch against Forest Lake for the section championship.

Forest Lake 5, Chisago Lakes 3

Trailing 5-0 entering the top of the seventh on a stormy afternoon, the Wildcats bats finally came alive. But a spirited rally fell two runs short, and the Rangers held on to beat the Wildcats 5-3 for the section 7AAA championship and a trip to the state tournament.

Nasty weather threatened as the game got underway at 4 p.m. Thunder, lightning and rain interrupted the game in the bottom of the first, and the game got underway again after and hour and ten minute delay. The St. Francis grounds crew did and excellent job getting the field back into playing shape.

Both teams' pitchers dominated in the early going. But the Rangers finally got to Wildcat pitcher Rachel Nelson in the bottom of the fourth. Two singles and an outfield error led to the first Ranger run, and another Ranger single drove in the second run of the inning. The Wildcats got two runners on with two outs in the top of the fifth, but the next batter struck out to end the threat.

The Rangers opened bottom the fifth with a walk and three singles to put across two more runs. Nelson struck out the next two batters, but the next hitter single to drive in a run and make the score 5-0 Rangers.

With a storm still threatening and a light rain coming down, the Wildcats went to work in the top of the seventh. Lisa Schommer walked to lead off the inning. Ashley Oehme followed with a single. Angie Gauvin singled to drive in the first run of the game, and Mallory Schneider followed with a run-scoring single of her own. After the next two batters struck out, Amanda Houle kept things going with yet another run scoring single. But the next Wildcat batter popped out to end the game, and the Wildcats came up just three runs short of making it to the state tournament.

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