MANKATO- One pitch was all the difference that New Life Academy Eagles would need as the Eagles shut out the Barnum Bombers in the Class A Girl’s Softball Championship Game. The one pitch was a pitch that Rebekah Schmidt of the Eagles laced over the left field fence for a two run home run and was the difference as the Eagles shut out the Bombers 2-0.

“They wanted some revenge” Head Coach Randy Myhre stated to Northland Sports Online. “They were joking with us about the way we have beaten them on the hard-court over the past few seasons, and that they wanted this game in the worst way.” Myhre added, “We lost to the best team today, their pitcher was so amazing; we don’t see that type of pitching up north.”

  Schmidt hit a two run home run in the top of the first inning to give the Eagles a 2-0 lead and that would turn out to be the only scoring of the game. Leadoff batter Lauren St. John reached on a Barnum error and she scored as Schmidt hit her home run to left. With a two run lead the junior pitcher Schmidt then took over on the mound as she threw strikes and was over powering on the mound for the most part.

“She was great; she is the best pitcher we have faced.” Katrina Newman told Northland Sports Online. “We had a hard time all game long making good contact because her rise ball was so hard to hit.” Newman added “it’s been amazing to come down here and play in the state tournament I have been very fortunate in my sports career.”

Newman had an outstanding state tournament on the pitchers mound for Barnum throwing her ninth no hitter of the season in the 4-0 win over Menahga. The championship game saw the Eagles getting four hits in the win and one of the runs scored was earned. Newman struck out nine and walked one batter in the loss.

Schmidt struck out fourteen Bombers in the win giving up only three hits in the game while walking none. Schmidt also had two of the four Eagle hits. Barnum’s best chance came in the sixth inning when Paige Rilea singled to lead off the inning, then Jessica Newman hit a line shot to right center field, in which an outstanding defensive play by Andrea Peterfaso robbed Newman of an extra base hit and a possible big inning. The big play defensively robbing Newman of the hit was the first part of the play as Peterfaso then fired the ball to 1st base to double off Rilea to complete the double play.

The great play defensively was all the Eagles needed as the Bombers would go down in the sixth inning and in the seventh to end the game. Katrina Newman singled in the second inning off Schmidt, and would be stranded at second base after a Myhre sacrifice moved her there but the Bombers would fail to get her past second. The only other hit was a double to left field from Karianna Duesler, but again she was stranded at second unable to advance.

The Bombers finish the season 25-3 overall and their second runner up finish in the girls state softball tournament. Barnum finished second back in 1992. Northland Sports Online would like to congratulate Randy Myhre and his coaching staff along with all the players and parents on the success this season. NSO also would like to congratulate Katrina Newman as her high school sports career has ended for Barnum but will continue at UMD next season.

     Fans packed the Barnum High School gym Sunday evening to show appreciation for the Bombers girl’s basketball team…who for the first time ever won the state single A championship.  Saturday, the Bombers knocked off Goodhue in the state final by a score of 43 to 31 to earn the state crown.  Bombers head coach Randy Myhre said Bomber fans figured heavily into the success of the team.  One of three team captains who spoke, Sara Myhre, continued the fan theme and thanked the crowd for its team support.

   The Bombers finished the season with a 31 and 2 overall record.  The team’s 180 wins over the past six seasons is the best in all classes of Minnesota girl’s High School basketball over that same period.  Three Bombers land on the all state tournament team.  They are Katrina and Jessica Newman and Sara Myhre.  Congratulations to the Barnum Bombers girl high school basketball team.