NORTH MANKATO – Grace Thorson was a sophomore when the Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial softball team played for a state championship.
She remembers the rollercoaster of emotions of that experience, trying to achieve a dream that ultimately fell short in a 3-0 loss to Randolph. Wednesday’s Class AA semifinal game showed that the Knights might be better prepared to handle the highs and lows of competing for a championship.
“I remember the whirlwind of emotions (in 2024),” Thorson said. “I was just a sophomore, and we wanted to win it so badly for the seniors. This is so exciting for the whole community. It’s really been cool to see everyone come together like this.”
The Knights (26-0) went ahead 7-0, survived a five-run inning, and rebounded with more offense to defeat St. Cloud Cathedral 11-5 in the Class AA semifinals Wednesday at Caswell Park.
The ups and downs of the game might have broken some teams, but the top-seeded Knights persevered.
“You’d rather win 10-zip, but (Cathedral) is one of the best-hitting teams we’ve faced all year,” LCWM coach Tony Parsons said. “The girls really got tougher today, which was kinda awesome to see. It’s not the way you’d draw it up, but it worked.”
The Knights scored two in the first and four in the second to build the early lead. Nettie Parsons cruised through the first four innings, allowing just three hits and no runs. Thorson’s diving catch in right-center left the bases loaded in the fourth.
Everything changed in the fifth inning as Cathedral scored five runs with two outs. Nettie Parson was replaced by New Parsons, but Cathedral closed within 7-5 with all the momentum.
“You can’t get too up or too down,” Thorson said. “As a senior, the girls look up to me so I had to stay focused and keep playing our game.”
The Knights, which defeated Cathedral 13-4 during the regular season, responded with three runs in the bottom of the fifth, with Nev Parsons, Piper Hellekson and Kylee Hall each earning an RBI hit. Sydney Kramer’s RBI single in the sixth inning made it 11-5.
Nettie Parsons, who pitched a no-hitter in the state quarterfinals, returned to the mound in the sixth and retired the last six hitters. She allowed four runs on seven hits with eight strikeouts and three walks.
“Everyone on the team was hitting, and we just kind of fed off each other,” Thorson said. “This means everything to us. To be undefeated and playing in the championship game … that’s every senior’s goal.”
Nev Parsons had four hits and two RBIs, and Kramer added two hits and three RBIs. Hellekson and Hall both had two hits and two RBIs.
LCWM faces Visitation in the championship game at 3 p.m. Friday at the University of Minnesota’s Jane Sage Cowles Stadium. Visitation defeated Jackson County Central 2-1 in the other semifinal Wednesday.
“It’s going to be awesome,” coach Parsons said. “When you have a season like we’ve had and top it off by going to the (championship game), it’s something they’ll always remember. “I’ve been coaching this group since 8U so it’s really been cool to see them do this.”