AUSTIN — There is no red medal for second place this year for the Zumbrota-Mazeppa softball team. The 2016 Z-M squad is proudly supporting blue medals.
Z-M had placed second in the Section One, Class AA tournament in both 2013 and 2015 while placing third in 2014. Those runner-up section finishes came to an end on Thursday as Z-M toppled Winona Cotter 11-1 in five innings to earn a state berth.
"We've been on the other side, we've had the red medals enough," Z-M coach Kevin Nelson said.
After recent heartbreak, this year the Z-M players were all smiles as they wore the section-winning blue medal ribbons around their necks.
"It feels pretty good because we've had two runner-up finishes and we've been so close with Kasson," Z-M senior pitcher Morgan Olson said. "It feels good because were able to finish today."
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Kasson-Mantorville, the two-time defending Class AA champion, moved up to Section 1AAA this season and had a bid for another state title dashed Thursday with a 4-1 loss to Winona in the section finals.
Z-M has been thumping foes much of the season and its state berth was probably unaffected by the addition of another class this year. The Cougars (23-1) are currently ranked No. 1 in the state in Class AA.
"It's really nice because we've been working really hard," Z-M junior first baseman Tara Matuska said. "It feels great."
• In Section One, Class A, Hayfield earned a second straight state berth by defeating Wabasha-Kellogg on Thursday. W-K won the first game 20-8 to force a one-game showdown. Hayfield came out on top 12-4 in that contest to repeat as section champs.
• Kasson-Mantorville saw its season end won win short of a state berth. Winona took advantage of the new four-class system as the Winhawks earned their first ever state berth in softball. Ashton Hoeppner pitched a complete-game four-hitter and had her shutout spoiled with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. The Winhawks won 4-1 to reach state for the first time. Hoeppner led the way by allowing just four hits, no walks and striking out 10 K-M hitters.
