STATE’S BEST — Fairmont American Legion Post 36 pitcher Mandy Pytleski hurls a delivery during postseason fastpitch softball action at Hands Park. Pytleski, first baseman Emily Muller (back) and Fairmont captured the Minnesota American Legion summer state softball tournament championship on Sunday in New York Mills. Pytleski was named the event’s outstanding pitcher. (Photo by Greg Abel)

NEW YORK MILLS — Ironically, Fairmont Post 36 lost every coin-flip that determined the ‘home’ team during the second-ever Minnesota American Legion state fastpitch softball summer tournament, but ended its three-game weekend at Lund Field with a state championship.

Ace right-hander Mandy Pytleski fired a one-hit complete-game gem, while the hard-hitting trio of Emma Gudahl, Abi Sundeen and Emily Muller combined for 10 hits — half for doubles — to produce eight RBIs in powering Fairmont to an 11-1, seven-inning triumph over Upsala in Sunday’s state finale in New York Mills.

Pytleski, who was tabbed the 2023 state tournament’s outstanding pitcher on Sunday, hurled the event’s first-ever perfect game during Fairmont’s 16-0, five-inning semifinal rout over Osakis on Saturday.

Nevaeh Rahm went 3-for-4 with a home run and game-best four RBIs from the batter’s box and pitched six solid innings to net the win to guide Post 36 to a 9-6 opening-round win over Browerville earlier Saturday.

Ironically, Browerville captured state runner-up accolades during the inaugural Minnesota American Legion state softball event in 2022, while Fairmont claimed third place last summer.

“A majority of these girls have played softball together for a long time, so it was nice to see all of their hard work throughout the years pay off with a state championship,” said Fairmont coach Aaron Lowry.

After two scoreless innings in Sunday’s state finale, the visitors on the scoreboard from Fairmont hung up four runs in the top of the third before tacking on two more in the both the fourth and fifth frames for an 8-0 lead. Post 36 salted away the win by adding three more runs in the top of the seventh.

Gudahl collected a game-best four of Fairmont’s 14 hits — including three for half of Post 36’s extra-base hits on the state championship contest — to generate a co-leading three RBIs. Gudahl, Fairmont’s leadoff batter, also crossed the plate three times.

Sundeen contributed a three-hit performance, including a double, to Fairmont’s high-octane offensive effort. Sundeen also produced a co-leading three RBIs and scored once.

Emily Muller went 3-for-4 with a double, drove in two runs and scored once, while Pytleski proved double-trouble for opponents by swinging a lethal bat. Pytleski went 2-for-4 with a double and one RBI.

Ava Gillmore and Ilana Moeller each supplied one hit for Fairmont in the state finale, with Gillmore collecting one RBI.

Pytleski allowed one unearned run on only one hit in seven innings of work inside the pitcher’s circle to net her second victory of the state event. The hard-throwing right-hander recorded three strikeouts and issued only one walk.

Pytleski literally proved perfect during Saturday’s 16-0 state semifinal triumph over Osakis in five innings.

Pytleski hurled an efficient 60 total pitches to not allow an Osakis player to either score a run or reach base by a hit, walk or hit-by-pitch, while Post 36’s defense played five frames of error-free softball. Pytleski finished the semifinal with six strikeouts.

Fairmont manufactured three runs on two hits in the top of the second inning. Sundeen and Gillmore each collected singles before Emily Muller was hit by a delivery to load the bases.

Ilana Moeller then drew an RBI walk with two outs, Gudahl was plunked to earn an RBI, while Pytleski received an RBI bases-loaded walk for a 3-0 lead.

Sundeen then drilled the first of her two doubles on the semifinal to lead off Fairmont’s third at-bat before later scoring on Ella Klunder’s RBI groundout for a four-run margin.

Pytleski was hit by an offering in Fairmont’s fourth, Rahm singled and Klunder followed with a pivotal RBI single with two outs to widen the gap to 5-0.

Gillmore then hammered a two-run single, Emily Muller walked and Kynlie Anderson collected an RBI hit to build the lead to 8-0.

Gudahl reached on an error in the top of the fifth before circling the bases on Rahm’s RBI single. Sundeen cranked a run-scoring double before Emily Muller eventually drew a bases-loaded walk.

Jayda Healey chipped in an RBI walk, Tiffany Lowry nailed a two-run single and Fairmont added two more runs via an error to create a 16-0 lead.

Pytleski got a groundout, popout and flyout in the bottom of the fifth inning to close out her perfect-game pitching performance.

Fairmont opened the state tournament by pounding out 11 hits to fend off Browerville’s late comeback bid, 9-6, on Saturday in New York Mills.

Post 36 plated two runs in the top of the third, erupted for five more in the fourth and added two key insurance runs in the seventh to hold on for the three-run first-round win.

Rahm went 3-for-4 with a game-leading four RBIs — highlighted by a pivotal two-run HR in Fairmont’s final at-bat. Pytleski, who had doubled, scored ahead of Rahm on the round-tripper.

Pytleski finished with two hits and one RBI, Ilana Moeller singled twice to drive in a run, while Gudahl, Klunder, Gillmore and Anderson each contributed one hit.

Rahm allowed four runs — three earned — on only one hit in six innings pitched to net the Game 1 winning decision. Rahm recorded a game-best 11 strikeouts and issued six walks.

Pytleski allowed two unearned runs on just one hit in pitching the seventh inning to seal Fairmont’s Game 1 victory. Pytleski struck out one and did not issue a walk.