ABOVE: Bria Williamson slides into second at Winnebago Avenue Sports Complex during the championship game on Sunday during the Cardinal Power 14U GFP Softball Classic. Staff photo by Caleb Brinton.

FAIRMONT – The Cardinal Power 14U GFP Softball Classic came to a close on July 6 at Winnebago Avenue Sports Complex.

There was a last-minute change in venue due to rainfall flooding the fields at Cardinal Park.

Divided into two pools, Pool A was made up of Martin County West, Owatonna Crush Blue and the Southwest Storm. Pool B consisted of Cardinal Power, Austin Red and Owatonna Crush Orange. In the championship game, the Cardinal Power held off MCW 6-2.

Game 1 started with MCW against Owatonna Blue. MCW went on to win 9-0.

Game 2 featured the Cardinal Power against Austin Red, where the Cardinals secured the win 10-4. Game 3 featured the Gamblers and the Southwest Storm, with the Gamblers winning 6-4. The Cardinals held off Owatonna Crush Orange to lock in a slot to the final game with a score of 5-4. MCW knocked off the Gamblers in a 9-0 win to join Cardinal Power in the championship game. In the second-place game, the Owatonna Crush Orange took on the Gamblers, winning 10-3 to secure the bronze.

The final stage was set for MCW to take on the Cardinal Power for the Champions slot. Heading into the first inning, neither team was able to produce much and went into the second at 0-0. In the second inning, Bria Williamson dropped a fly ball into center field to reach on a single. Williamson stole second and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Avery Kurt drove a hard grounder to right, bringing in the Cardinals’ first run of the game.

Williamson then homered to center, driving in Brooklyn Stone and Gwyneth Schultz. Giving up just one run, the Cardinals were able to keep MCW off of the scoreboard for the rest of the game while extending their lead to four over the course of the next two innings, securing the championship for the Cardinal Power.