Armstrong softball played in the Section 6AAAA tournament last week, entering as the number one seed after a hard-fought season in the Northwest Suburban Conference.
The Falcons opened the week with a confident 10-0 win over ninth-seed Minneapolis Southwest in the second round of the tournament, setting up a meeting with fifth-seed St. Louis Park on May 22.
The game against the Orioles started well. Armstrong took a heavy lead in the first few innings and looked ready for another big win. But, St. Louis Park had other ideas, mounting a comeback. The Orioles ate away at Armstrong’s lead cutting it to 8-4 after four innings.
Park added a fifth run in the top of the fifth despite strong overall field play by the Falcons. Armstrong responded with a big bottom of the fifth. An RBI single by Madison Fondow brought Annaleigh Walvante home to start things off before Armstrong scored another run off an error. Later, Elizabeth Brey sent home Gabriella Berns and herself with a home run, before Sam Lind hit a solo home run. Just like that, Armstrong led 14-5.
Park, however, was not done yet. The Orioles scored four runs in the top of the sixth to close the gap to 14-9, helped along by a two-run home run. With the Falcons scoring no runs in the bottom of the sixth, the pressure was on.
The Orioles had to tie things up in the top of the seventh, but Armstrong reacted well to the challenge. Ella Cooley stepped onto the mound for Peyton Erickson. Erickson had a strong overall day pitching, but as the Orioles built momentum, they loaded the bases and a change of frequency was needed. Cooley got it done, getting a strikeout immediately before Erickson, now at left field, caught two balls to end the game at 14-9.
Armstrong returned to play on May 24, facing Edina at Pamela Park in the semifinals after this edition went to press.
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