Park edged Hastings for the second time in the section playoffs Monday, June 7, to stay alive in the Section 3AAA softball elimination bracket at Richfield Middle School.

The Wolfpack won 6-2 to keep its playoff hopes alive.

Park (13-11) now plays archrival East Ridge (13-10) Wednesday. June 9, starting at 4:30 p.m. The winner of that game meets top-seeded Rosemount for the section title and a trip to state on Friday, June 11, starting at 3 p.m.

Park and East Ridge split two games during the regular season.

“Gracie Bond threw very well for us in the circle, striking out eight and only walking one,” said Park coach Bob Loshek.

Gracie Conaway and Bond has two hits each accounting for four of Park’s runs.

“It is very exciting to be on the top three of the section teams in 3AAAA,” Loshek said. “ It has been traditionally one of the most powerful sections in the state and to play this well is very satisfying.”

Fourth-ranked Rosemount improved to 20-1 with a 7-4 win over East Ridge in the Section 3AAAA championship bracket Monday.

Park 3, Eastview 1 Park edged host Eastview 3-1 to stay alive a Section 3AAAA elimination bracket quarterfinals Friday, June 4, at Apple Valley.

Junior ace Gracie Bond allowed just two singles, struck out three and walked three. She set the side down in order in the second, third and seventh innings.

“I feel really happy,” said Bond. “Eastview’s a great team so it feels really good.

“I really mainly just threw fastballs today, I was hitting my corner on ‘em and the defense played awesome, so I credit a lot of it to that,” Bond added. “I think we bounced back awesome.”

Park never got anything going until the fifth inning when the Wolfpack strung together four hits, including a run-scoring double by Emma Ambroz, in six at-bats to take a 2-0 lead.

“I think we were able to flip the switch pretty quickly from transition from yesterday, to kind of wipe it away,” senior centerfielder Corinna Loshek said about bouncing back from the loss to Rosemount. “I think we did a better job of attacking on defense, which really brought it all together.”

The Wolfpack added an insuranc8e run in the sixth on a single, sacrifice bunt and a double by Bryleigh Dana.

Park improved its season record to 13-11.

Rosemount 13, Park 1 The Irish dominated the action in a Section 3AAAA semifinal Thursday, June 3, at home.

Rosemount scored five runs in the second inning and then eight more in the third to take total control of the game. The Irish had 13 hits and 12 RBIs to just one for the Wolfpack. Park 8, Hastings 5 Host Park of Cottage Grove broke away from a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the fifth inning to score an 8-5 victory over Hastings Tuesday in the first round of Section 3AAAA softball.

“Well, we played pretty well, we just had a couple of bad innings as far as hitting-wise, we didn’t stick to our game plan and then we had some mental mistakes in the field,” said Hastings head softball coach Jennifer Thesing. “But Park’s a great team and I think we hung with them pretty well.”

Both coach agreed that it was a bit of a sloppy game on both sides and chalked it up to playoff nerves.

Hastings jumped out of the gate quickly, scoring twice in the first inning on three walks and a passed ball. Park rallied to tie the game in the second, and then took a 3-2 lead in the third on back-to-back doubles by Emma Ambroz and starting Park pitcher Gracie Bond.

Park scored two runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth. Park string together two singles, two walks and a big double by Ambroz in the decisive sixth inning.

Bond went 3-for-3 with two singles, a double and a walk to lead the Pak hitters. Ambroz had a pair of doubles and earned a walk.

On the mound, Bond struggled with control the entire game, but settled down after a shaky start to earn the win. She allowed two hits with seven strikeouts and nine walks in the game.

“You’re talking section playoffs, Park coach Bob Loshek said when asked about both team’s less then crisp play. “Kids get, sometimes, not all the time but sometimes, especially younger teams, and both Hastings and us have young teams right now, sophomores, freshmen, eighth graders.

“It’s one of those games where it’s always nice to get a win in sections,” Loshek continued. “It’s always great. You never take anything for granted, but at the same time, they’re kids. Kids sometimes get nervous and we don’t put any extra pressure on them. We say go out and play your game.”

Park junior pitcher Gracie Bond is all smiles after throwing a two-hitter in a 3-1 win over Eastview Friday. Photo by John Molene