In a thrilling Class A State Softball Tournament game at Caswell Park in North Mankato, No. 1 New Ulm Cathedral dominated Kelliher/Northome with an 8-1 victory. Despite a 45-minute rain delay, the Greyhounds played seven solid innings of softball, showcasing their strong defense and teamwork.
Head coach Jamie Kuehn praised the team’s defense, stating, “It gives us the ability to make a few more mistakes and takes pressure off our pitchers.” The Greyhounds capitalized on Kelliher/Northome’s five errors, scoring six unearned runs.
Pitcher Jayde Altermatt was a standout player, coming into the game in the third inning and pitching five hitless frames with 10 strikeouts. Kuehn explained the decision to bring in Altermatt, saying, “We thought they would have a harder time hitting Jayde. It was a close game then, we had to go with keeping them off the bases.”
Offensively, Jenna Hotovec, Alexa Hornick, and Madelyn Haala led the Greyhounds to victory with key hits and RBIs. The team’s collaborative effort and family-like mentality were evident throughout the game, especially during the rain delay.
With the win, Cathedral advances to face No. 4 Russell-Tyler-Ruthton in the next round. The Greyhounds will look to continue their strong performance and teamwork as they strive for success in the state tournament.