The Luverne High School softball players finished their regular season in Edgerton on Friday, May 20, when they defeated the Dutchmen 4-0.
The 17-3 Cardinals secured the first seed and were scheduled to host the first round of playoffs at home on Tuesday, May 24 (after this edition of the Star Herald went to press).
They will face the winner of Minneota/Canby and Windom.
Luverne was unable to get a baserunner in the first two innings versus the Dutchmen.
Jacey Smith got on base in the third off an Edgerton error. Billi Connell hit an RBI double to put Luverne on the board.
The Dutchmen were unable to score and Luverne led 1-0 after three. Carly Olson hit a double to start off the fourth inning.
Reghan Bork sacrificed to move Olson over, and Kendall Buss was able to score the run with a pop fly that created another Edgerton error.
The Cardinals advanced their lead to 2-0 after four innings of play.
Ella Reisdorfer singled to start off the fifth inning. Billi Connell kept the hits coming with a single that scored Reisdorfer.
Peyton Behr hit a sacrifice fly to score Connell, taking the Cardinal lead to 4-0 after five innings.
Anika Boll had the only hit in the sixth inning. The Cardinals were unable to put any runners on base in the seventh, and the game ended with the Cardinals defeating the Dutchmen 4-0.
Gracie Nath pitched all seven innings for the Cardinals, allowing one hit and no runs. Nath walked one and struck out 13.
Box score AB R H RBI
B Connell 3 1 2 2
P Behr 2 0 0 1
C Olson 2 1 1 0
A Cowell 1 0 0 0
R Bork 2 0 0 0
K Buss 3 0 0 0
A Boll 3 0 1 0
B Smidt 3 0 0 0
A Boll 2 1 0 0
J Smith 3 1 0 0
E Reisdorfer 3 1 1 0