Top-ranked Burnsville Ends Rosemount's Softball Season

Defending state champion Burnsville looked ready to make another run at state Monday afternoon, and dispatched visiting Rosemount 6-0 in the 3AAA section tournament.

Burnsville senior pitcher Kelsey Anderson threw a 1-hit shutout, the Blaze played flawless defense behind her and the team rapped out 11 hits against two Rosemount pitchers in the victory.

“Every single one of our starters was part of that state championship last year,” said Burnsville head coach Hillary Hansen. “And they want it bad. So they’re fighting and they’re going to do everything they can to get back there.”

Top-ranked in the state and seeded No. 1 in the section tournament, the Blaze (18-1) played loose and confident Monday afternoon.

"I told the girls I was proud of them," said Rosemount head coach Tiffny Rose.

"Burnsville is very good," Rose added. "They're the No. 1 team in the conference and the top seed in the section."

Anderson retired Rosemount's first 15 batters in her 35th career shutout. She allowed just 1-hit, struck out eight, walked one and faced just two batters over the minimum.

The Blaze bats, meanwhile, were stinging the Irish all over the field. In the first meeting between the two South Suburban Conference teams this season, Burnsville edged the Irish 1-0. Monday was a different story as the Blaze scored runs in the first and third innings and then broke the contest wide open with a four-run fourth.

With two out in the first inning, Burnsville ninth grader Kelly Grove reached when she was hit by a pitch and then scored on a double to the fence by senior Megan Lehnen.

Burnsville made it a 2-0 game third. Wolk singled and advanced to second on Lehnen's second hit of the day. Sophomore Megan Threlkeld then singled to score Wolk.

In the fourth inning, junior Abby Harazin led off with a single and scored when junior Abby Johnson tripled to right field. Johnson scored on a double by senior Kelsey Anderson. Wolk followed with a single to put runners on first and third. Courtesy runner sophomore Erica Belter scored on a RBI ground out by Grove. Burnsville recorded its sixth and final run with a RBI single by Lehnen, scoring Wolk.

Burnsville will play Eastview, a 12-2 winner over Lakeville South on Monday, at Eagan High School on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.

Rosemount ended its season at 5-10. The Irish advanced to this game with a 2-1 win over Lakeville North in the first round.

Score                                                                R         H         E

Rosemount      000      000      0          --          0          1          0

Burnsville        101      400      x          --          6          11        0