May 31—GRAND FORKS — Kyah Stundal threw the ball in the air after recording the final out of the North Dakota Class A state softball tournament.
The Williston softball team jumped together in the infield. Some cried. They posed for a team photo. They dropped a bucket of Powerade on coach Jesse Stundal.
For a team that had never been to the state tournament, Williston knew exactly how it’s done.
Alana Thomas pitched a complete-game, three-hitter and struck out nine. Her defense was perfect behind her. And the Coyotes beat Minot 3-2 on Saturday at Albrecht Field to claim the program’s first championship in its first trip to state.
“That’s one thing with this group — they’re pretty gritty and confident,” said coach Stundal, whose team has just one senior. “They don’t get shaken. The stage wasn’t too big for them today.”
Thomas, a junior, struck out nine Minot batters.
The only runs she allowed came during a two-out rally in the bottom of the third. Minot’s Journey Larson and Darby Mowbray hit back-to-back singles and Gabrielle Rohrer drove them home with a double.
“I’m so happy,” Thomas said. “I’m so proud of all of these girls for working really hard and putting their hearts into this game. I know they love it so much. They’re there backing me up, too.”
Thomas’ defense came through in a couple of big spots.
In the bottom of the fourth, right fielder Morgan Strietzel made a two-out, over-the-shoulder to save at least one run.
Strietzel, a sophomore, had never played right field before the state tournament. She was moved from third base because Williston’s usual right fielder is overseas with an exchange program.
“I thought that ball was way more in than it was,” Strietzel said. “So, I ran up on it, but I’m just happy I got back and caught that ball and it worked out in the end.”
Offensively, Williston struggled to muster much against Minot pitcher Raegan Terrel. Chloee Stundal had a single and a double — the only two Coyotes hits.
But the Coyotes took advantage of four Minot errors.
“We would have loved to come out on top,” Minot coach Gerard Cederstrom said. “We just didn’t play clean. And we didn’t really hit the ball a ton. Did we play well enough to win? Obviously not. But it was a good game. It was fun. I hope everybody enjoyed it.”
Minot was playing in its second state championship in three years. Both ended in one-run losses.
Williston won 15 of its final 16 games this season. The lone loss in that stretch was 9-0 to Minot in the West Region championship game.
On Saturday, the Coyotes came out on top.
And once Stundal caught the final out, the celebration was on.
“I didn’t believe it at first,” Strietzel said. “I thought it was a dream at first. I’d have to have someone pinch me, because I didn’t know it was real.”
WIL 200 100 0 — 3 2 0
MIN 002 000 0 — 2 3 4
WP — Alana Thomas; LP — Raegan Terrel
Highlights — WIL: Thomas 9 Ks, Chloee Stundal 2×3, Kyah Stundal RBI; MIN: Gabrielle Rohrer 2B, 2 RBI