Frazee softball team finishes 2021 season with a record of 18-8 overall

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

Frazee took third place in the Section 8AA tournament on June 10 as the Hornets fell to Pequot Lakes by a score of 10-8 in the elimination bracket. Hawley went on to win the section title and advanced to the state softball tournament.

The loss ended the Hornets’ season with a record of 18-8 overall as all eight of their losses came to either Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton (three losses), Pequot Lakes (three losses) and Hawley (two losses). The Hornets were 18-0 against every other team they played this season outside of those three teams.

“Overall it was a great season and I’m really proud of these girls,” said head coach Matt Bauer. “The last time they played the seniors were sophomores and juniors were freshman. They stepped up and worked hard all year and left their mark. The five seniors were a integral part of the program for many years and they will be missed. Even with some great individual season stats it really was a total team effort all year and that is what we want.” 

June 8

A 7 run bottom of the fifth inning helped Frazee make quick work of Warroad on June 8. The Hornets scored 1 run in the first inning, 1 in the second and 3 in the fourth inning to take a  5-2 lead heading into the top of the fifth inning.

After a scoreless top half of the inning, the Hornets batted around the order when the first 10 hitters of the inning reached base safely to end the game on a Makenna O’Brien fielder’s choice that brought Madison Starry across the plate to end the game by the 10-run rule. 

Among the highlights of the inning was a bases clearing double by Harley Kropuenske and an RBI single by Faith Hamm.

The win allowed the Hornets to advance in the elimination bracket where they took on Thief River Falls. 

The Hornets struck first in the bottom of the first inning when Anissa Antonsen hit an RBI single to bring Starry across the plate. The Hornets added 6 more runs in the second inning when Dani Piche and Starry connected with RBI singles and Antonsen hit a triple. 

The Prowlers scored 2 in the fourth inning, off a 2-run home run and 5 runs in the fifth inning to tie the game at 7-7. 

The Hornets took the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth inning when Hamm reached base on a walk and later scored on an error to give the Hornets an 8-7 lead. Frazee added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning when O’Brien hit an RBI single to bring Malena Mahoney across the plate to make the game 9-7.

Game one

AB R H BI

Dani Piche 2 2 1 0

Madison Starry 4 3 2 0

Malena Mahoney 4 0 2 1

Anissa Antonsen 2 0 0 0

Makenna O’Brien 4 1 1 1

Kiley Karger 3 1 1 0

Annika Reierson 3 2 2 0

Faith Hamm 2 2 1 1

Harley Kropuenske 3 1 1 3

HITTING- 2B- Kropuenske

Game two

AB R H BI

Dani Piche 4 1 1 1

Madison Starry 4 2 2 1

Malena Mahoney 3 2 1 0

Anissa Antonsen 3 1 2 1

Makenna O’Brien 4 0 1 1

Kiley Karger 4 0 0 0

Annika Reierson 1 1 0 0

Faith Hamm 2 2 0 0

Harley Kropuenske 3 0 0 0

HITTING- 3B- Antonsen

June 10

Frazee’s season came to a close on June 10 when the Hornets fell to Pequot Lakes by a score of 10-8 to finish in third place in Section 8AA. 

The Patriots jumped out to a 7-0 lead after scoring 3 runs in the first inning, 2 in the second and 2 in the third inning. However, the Hornets fought back and actually took the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning thanks to 3 run fourth inning and 5 run bottom of the sixth inning. 

In the bottom of the sixth inning Kropuenske came through with a bit 2-run double and Starry hit an RBI single to help give the Hornets an 8-7 lead heading into the top of the seventh inning.

Unfortunately, the Patriots took advantage of a pair of Hornet errors to come away with a 10-8 win to end Frazee’s season. 

“Even though we lost this game it was a testament to the kids grit and ability to over come some adversity. They dug a 7 run hole to overcome and they did it to take the lead,” said Bauer. “It was a total team effort and a thriller but it was Pequot’s day as they were able to come back and win and then beat Hawley later. I give our girls a lot of credit. Most teams would’ve quit but they never did and put themselves in a spot to win the game.”

AB R H BI

Dani Piche 4 1 1 1

Madison Starry 4 2 2 1

Malena Mahoney 3 2 1 0

Anissa Antonsen 3 1 2 1

Makenna O’Brien 4 0 1 1

Kiley Karger 4 0 0 0

Annika Reierson 1 1 0 0

Faith Hamm 2 1 1 0

Harley Kropuenske 3 0 0 0

HITTING- 3B- Antonsen