First State Title for Adapted Softball

The Coon Rapids fieldhouse was full of anticipation on Saturday, June 4, with Adapted Softball CI and PI divisions competing in the Minnesota State Tournament semi final and final rounds.

The CI division semifinalists; Anoka-Hennepin, North Suburban, Osseo, and Burnsville/Farmington/Lakeville battled to get to the finals, but North Suburban took down Anoka-Hennepin 15-3 and Osseo squeaked out a 15-14 win over Burnsville/Farmington/Lakeville.

The CI division state championship between North Suburban and Osseo was one-sided throughout the first three innings. North Suburban lead 10-2, but Osseo exploded and scored 13 runs over the next four innings; including four in the bottom of the seventh. The late run was not quite enough to overpower North Suburban's elite offense led by Anthony Bengston, a junior shortstop. North Suburban held on to a 17-15 victory thanks to Bengston going five for five; including a two run home run and four RBI's. North Suburban assistant coach, Erik Aus, told his team at the beginning of the game to "first of all have fun and things will fall where they fall."

After winning the 2016 state championship. Athletic Director Brian Hegseth said, "In the tournament the team came together and played extremely well." The team won 12-1 against South Washington County, 15-3 against Anoka and 17-15 against Osseo in the championship game.  This year, adaptive soccer also made it to the state championship and floor hockey won the state championship. This was the district's first title in adaptive softball.

All-Tournament Team

• Johnny Caliendo
• Nick Reichenbacher
• Anthony Bengston

Photo Credit: David Bank Studio