East falls in Class AAA third-place game

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East's Savannah Quandt gives Hailey Oelke a tearful hug after Friday's third place game loss to Orono.
Mankato East’s Carolyn Osdoba lays down a bunt in the bottom of the first during a loss in the third-place game of the Class AAA softball tournament.

June 9, 2012

East falls in Class AAA third-place game

Disappointed Cougars reflect on season, careers

By Chad Courrier Free Press Staff Writer The Mankato Free Press Sat Jun 09, 2012, 12:37 AM CDT

NORTH MANKATO — After nearly every pitch, Coley Ries stretched her right arm, flexing a sore shoulder.

Having pitched 18 innings on Thursday and coming back less than 24 hours later, the Mankato East senior’s shoulder hurt for the first time in her standout career.

But there’s no chance she wasn’t going to pitch in Friday’s third-place game against Orono at the Class AAA softball tournament. No way.

“It was the last game of my high-school career so (coming out) was never an option,” Ries said.

Orono scored five runs in the third inning and prevailed 5-1 at Caswell Park. It was a disappointing finish for the Cougars, but Ries said she’ll always remember the positives.

“There are a lot of teams that wish they could have played in the state tournament, and the games leading up to this were a lot of fun,” she said. “It was disappointing that we didn’t win, but we did some good things.”

Orono, which lost 3-0 to Maple Grove late Thursday night, used five hits to score the five runs in the third inning. East came back in the bottom of the third when Carolyn Osdoba’s bunt single scored Libby Andrego, who had singled.

As the game went along, East coach Joe Madson could see that his senior pitcher was having discomfort, but he also knew how any conversation would go.

“There have been a few times over the years where I’ve talked to her about taking a break, but the answer is always ‘no’” Madson said. “I knew there was no way that she’d want to not finish her last game. She’s such a competitor.”

Ries, who was voted to the all-tournament team, allowed nine hits and three walks with 11 strikeouts. For the tournament, she fanned 35 batters in 25 innings.

“That first game (against Bloomington Jefferson), I felt like we played together, which made me happy,” Ries said. “The second and third games, we didn’t play as well so I can’t think too much about that.”

East had seven hits by seven different players. For the tournament, the Cougars had 19 hits but scored only four runs.

“We just couldn’t mount enough offense, which was kind of our theme for the week,” Madson said.

He also felt that the disappointment of Thursday’s 6-2 semifinal loss in 11 innings to Stillwater was still hanging over the team Friday morning.

“We just didn’t quite have it in us today,” he said. “I think we were still shocked that we weren’t in the championship game.”

East finishes the season with a 25-5 record.

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East falls in Class AAA third-place game

Disappointed Cougars reflect on season, careers

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