The Blair High School softball program qualified for its 14th NSAA State Championships on Friday at the Youth Sports Complex.
Coach Jennifer Fangmeier’s Bears picked up their 28th and 29th victories of the fall during the best-of-three Class B-2 District Finals series against Crete, earning a school record for wins and their first state berth since 2018.
“We knew we needed to be in Hastings at the end of the season,” the coach said. “We knew what we had do and it was to be here at the district finals.”
BHS (29-4) beat Crete 10-0 and 5-2 on their home field, and will next compete 2 p.m. Wednesday during the first round the Class B tourney at the Bill Smith Softball Complex in Hastings. Matchups remain to-be-determined.
Junior Kalli Ulven earned both district finals pitching victories against the Cardinals (16-13), throwing a no-hitter during the four-inning opener.
Claire Mann and Joslyn Policky, meanwhile, highlighted the Bears’ offensive effort with home runs. Mann’s came during the first game with Crete, while Policky pushed Blair’s lead from 3-2 to 5-2 during the top of the seventh inning in Game No. 2.
The Bears’ district championship roster is comprised of Greta Galbraith, Leah Chance, Policky, Audie Keeling, Tessa Villotta, Abby Leggott, Cailey Anderson, Jacy Schueth, Sophia Wrich, Nessa McMillen, Brooke Janning, Bria Scott, Josie Ulrich, Taylor Larson, Ally Lynch, Mann, Wrylee Osterhaus, Shelby Wolff, Ulven and Claire Anderson. The coaches are Fangmeier, Krystal Macholan, Monica Mary, Rose Klein and Katie Christensen. The student manager is Ruby Petersen.
For the full story and additional photos, check out next Tuesday's edition of the Washington County Pilot-Tribune or come back here to enterprisepub.com/sports that same day.
