Cannon Falls edges Fairmont in Section 2AA softball clash

NORTH MANKATO -- With Cannon Falls junior Abby Breuer and Fairmont freshman Nevaeh Rahm delivering strike after powerful strike, just reaching base proved at a premium during Saturday's Section 2AA softball tournament pitchers' duel at Caswell Park.

Breuer fired a near-perfect no-hitter on the strength of a game-best 10 strikeouts, while Madison Burr smacked an RBI double to break a scoreless tie in the fourth inning to squeeze the Bombers by the Cardinals, 2-0, during a sectional elimination contest in North Mankato.

Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial then eliminated Cannon Falls from postseason play via a 12-2 triumph Saturday afternoon at Caswell Park. The Bombers ended the spring season with a 12-6 overall record.

"I'd like to play (softball) at the next level," said the hard-throwing Breuer, who issued a first-inning walk to Fairmont's Emma Gudahl before plunking Emily Muller with a delivery in the sixth. "I've looked mostly at Division II schools so far."

Between issuing a base-on-balls to Gudahl and hitting Muller, Breuer retired an impressive string of 16 consecutive Cardinal batters. Bombers' shortstop Bella Davisson's athleticism then denied Fairmont's Allison Janssen from breaking up Breuer's no-hitter by diving to her left to glove a sinking liner up the middle in the top of the seventh.

Rahm did a solid job of countering her rival inside the chalked circle by scattering five hits in six innings, striking out four and walking three. Unfortunately for the Fairmont freshman phenom, back-to-back walks to Kayley Frenette and Breuer in the bottom of the fourth led to the sectional softball clash's only two runs.

"Unfortunately, probably the only pitch she missed up in the zone with, and (Madison) Burr connected for an RBI double," said Fairmont head coach Cory Hainy, whose youthful lineup finished the season with a 7-15 record. "That's just a tough break."

Morgan Kasa, Breuer's courtesy runner, later crossed the plate on Rachael Miller's RBI groundout to stake Cannon Falls to an insurmountable 2-0 lead.

Rahm, however, displayed her pitching mettle by giving up only three infield hits and keeping the Bombers off of the non-operating scoreboard during the final two frames.

"I told the girls that was the brand of defense I've been expecting all year long," Hainy said in reference to the Cardinals' errorless performance. "That was a tremendous defensive effort today."

Shortstop Emma Gudahl and third baseman Anna Ehlert proved flawless with both their gloves and arms en route to playing key roles in recording five outs apiece on the game.

Izzy Pagel, Davisson, Erin Kremers and Miller each contributed singles to the Bombers' five-hit effort.

"Obviously, we need to work on making better quality contact against the better opposing pitchers we face throughout the season," said Hainy.

FMT 000 000 0 -- 0 0 0

CF 000 200 x -- 2 5 0

Nevaeh Rahm (LP) and Chantel Moeller, Jaya Johnson (5). Abby Breuer (WP) and Rachael Miller.

LOB--Cannon Falls 5, Fairmont 1. 2B--Madison Burr (CF).