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Chisago Lakes 2, Rock Ridge 1 (10 innings)

Jesa Leritz stole home in the bottom of the tenth inning to give the Wildcat softball team a 2-1 win over the Rock Ridge Wolverines in the Section 7AAA championship game on Thursday, May 29 at North Branch High School.  The win sends the Wildcats to their third state tournament appearance in four years.  They finished third at state in 2022 and second in 2023.  The Wildcats, now ranked second in the state, will play their opening state tournament game at Caswell Park in North Mankato on Tuesday, June 3 at 12:30 p.m.

Starting pitcher Anna Zaruba pitched all 10 innings for the Wildcats.  She allowed one earned run on five hits, walked one and struck out 14.   The only run she allowed was a first inning home run.  The Wildcats tied it up in the third inning.  Jess Dittel-Hoefler led off the inning with a single.  Leritz hit a ground ball to the second baseman.  Dittel-Hoefler was forced out at second, but the speedy Leritz was not doubled up at first and she stole second.  Zaruba’s double to center scored Leritz, tying the game at 1-1.  

After some dicey innings with both Rock Ridge and Chisago Lakes threatening to score, with one out in the bottom of the tenth inning, the left-handed hitting Leritz slapped a high fly ball into the left-center field gap. She raced around the bases, and slid into third ahead of the throw for a triple.

The Wolverines intentionally walked Zaruba and Melana Larson to load the bases, setting up a potential force at home.  The next batter, Annika Malchow, took the first pitch for a strike.  As the ball left the pitcher’s hand, Leritz jumped off third base and went a third of the way down the line.  

The catcher did not look her way and lobbed the ball back to the pitcher.  As soon as the ball left the pitcher’s hand, Leritz took off for home.  The catcher yelled for the pitcher to throw the ball back, but Leritz slid in ahead of the throw and the Wildcats had a 2-1 win as the crowd and the team erupted in celebration.

After the game, head coach Brenda Carlson was notified that Zaruba had been named first team all-state for Class AAA and Larson had been named second team all-state.

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