The winningest Blair softball season in school history ended Friday with a third-place finish at the NSAA Class B State Championships in Hastings.
Coach Jennifer Fangmeier’s Bears lost 13-2 to Elkhorn in an elimination semifinals game at the Bill Smith Complex, falling one win shy of the state finals against Grand Island Northwest — which beat BHS 6-5 Thursday night.
Blair finished the tournament 2-2 and the year 31-6 overall. The final loss of its record-breaking season ended the prep softball careers of Tessa Villotta, Cailey Anderson, Josie Ulrich, Taylor Larson and Ally Lynch.
“Saying goodbye to the five seniors was hard,” Fangmeier said.
Junior Joslyn Policky, meanwhile, plated her team’s lone runs against the Antlers during the second inning, blasting a two-run homer over the left field fence. It tied the game, 2-2.
“Energy shifted back to our dugout,” Fangmeier said. “We felt really good, and then they were just seeing the ball really well and finding holes. Finding some gaps.”
Elkhorn outhit BHS 19-5, advancing into the championship matchup. Bears starter Kalli Ulven threw two innings before Brooke Janning filled in for the remaining frames of the six-inning game.
For the full story on the Bears’ return to the state tournament, check out Tuesday’s edition of the Washington County Pilot-Tribune. Coverage will appear online at enterprisepub.com/sports that same day.
