FAIRMONT – Fairmont Post 36 won its first two contests in the Minnesota American Legion Fastpitch Softball State Tournament on Saturday, August 2. Post 36 outscored their opponents 22-3 in the afternoon, using big starts from Brylee Miller to fuel both victories.

Game one

The first contest in Fairmont’s opening round was an 11-0 victory over Bemidji Post 14. After scoring four runs in the bottom of the fourth, Post 36 tallied the remaining three outs to finish the contest via mercy rule.

Fairmont’s offense started early and often against the Bemidji pitching staff. Brooklyn Stone and Gwyneth Schultz opened the frame off after reaching base via a single and a walk. Following a double steal that advanced both runners, Miller drove in the game’s first run with an RBI sacrifice flyout to center field.

Bria Williamson capped off the big inning with a two-run home run over the left field wall, giving Fairmont pitcher Miller some early breathing room.

More damage was done in the third inning.

Stone again led things off for Fairmont after reaching base on her second single of the game. Two more singles from Miller and Williamson loaded up the bases for Gabriella Leiding, who drove in another run following a walk.

Post 36 capped off the frame by taking advantage of some defensive miscues from their opponent.

Saige Leiding chopped a groundball down the third base line. After struggling to reel in the ball at first, two more Fairmont runs crossed the plate following the error, finishing the inning up 7-0.

Fairmont put the final touches on the contest with another crooked number in the fourth frame.

Mackenzie Lowry and Stone started the inning with back-to-back bunt singles to immediately put runners on the corners. Schultz, Miller, and Gabriella Leiding rattled RBI doubles to bring in the game’s final four runs.

Post 36 ended the game scoring 11 runs on 10 hits, with seven different players reaching base safely.

“It’s really good for us,” Fairmont coach Aaron Lowry said. “We have a lot of girls that have been playing all summer at different levels and leagues. For them to come together and really work hard here was really good to see.”

Miller capped off her day on the mound with five scoreless frames, limiting the Bemidji offensive attack to just one hit while racking up seven strikeouts.

“She really showed what she can do,” Lowry said. “She’s been playing varsity for a while, so she’s calm and confident. She hit her spots.”

Game two

Fairmont completed its afternoon with an 11-3 victory over Howard Lake Post 145. Post 36 fell 1-0 early, but rattled off seven straight runs to fuel the victory.

Howard Lake drew first blood Miller on the mound. After getting hit by a pitch and stealing second base, Post 145’s leadoff batter was immediately placed in scoring position. They cashed in on the opportunity, driving a ball through the left side to get on top early, 1-0.

Fairmont fought back, however.

Stone, Schultz, and Miller strung together three consecutive singles to load the bases. Makayla Lowry took advantage of the opportunity, ripping a line drive to center field that brought in two runs. Post 36 scored one more run via a base on balls to cap off the early scoring jolt.

The offense didn’t stop there, as the bottom of the Fairmont batting order strung together another offensive surge in the third frame.

Gabriella Leiding, Sydney York, and Abigail Sundeen consecutively reached base to start the inning. Nine-hole hitter Mackenzie Lowry drove in the first run with a base knock of her own to right field.

After back-to-back sacrifice flyouts drove in two more runs, Miller roped an RBI triple into right-center field for the final score of the inning.

Despite the lead, Howard Park didn’t give up, continuing to give problems for Miller in the circle.

With two outs on the board in the top of the fifth, Miller allowed two runners to get on after a single and a walk. Howard Lake again took care of the runners in scoring position, driving in the second and third runs of the contest with a deep single to right field and cutting the lead to four.

Miller finished the inning after collecting her eighth strikeout of her outing. Despite not being as sharp in her second appearance of the afternoon, Lowry was happy to see her finish on a high note.

“You know, Riley is a grinder,” Lowry said. “She knows how to throw, and she put it all out there today.”

Just like in the first inning, however, Fairmont countered with some offense of its own in the next frame, ultimately putting the contest out of reach.

With a runner on first, Schultz drove a ball over the center field wall for her first home run of the tournament. Makayla Lowry followed this up with a solo home run of her own to left, swelling the lead to seven.

Post 36 tallied one more run in the sixth inning to make it an eight-run contest and put on the finishing touches.