EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn.---A great tournament run came up a run short for the U.P. 906 Fastpitch 14u softball team Sunday night at the Northern Nationals in Eden Prairie, Minn.
The team made up of girls from Escanaba, Gladstone, Rapid River, Negaunee, and West Ishpeming played multiple games over four days before losing in a marathon championship game to the Minnesota Magic, 10-9, in nine innings.
Earlier in the day, the U.P. girls beat the Minnesota Storm in the quarterfinals, 9-1, then won in the semifinals over the Mankato (Minn.) Peppers, 4-1. They lost to the Minnesota Magic, 2-1, then stayed alive in the tournament with a 9-1 win over Minnesota Stealth.
Because of foul weather, it was decided to have one, winner-take-all game to determine the champion, rather than have the 906 Fastpitch team beat the Minnesota Magic twice.
As it turned out, the U.P. girls could not get the win, but finish as runners-up in a tournament that featured a whopping 84 teams.
Earlier, the girls picked up a 16-2 win Friday night, and 13-0 and 6-0 wins on Saturday, to advance to the Gold Bracket for Sunday's action.
The team made up of girls from Escanaba, Gladstone, Rapid River, Negaunee, and West Ishpeming played multiple games over four days before losing in a marathon championship game to the Minnesota Magic, 10-9, in nine innings.
Earlier in the day, the U.P. girls beat the Minnesota Storm in the quarterfinals, 9-1, then won in the semifinals over the Mankato (Minn.) Peppers, 4-1. They lost to the Minnesota Magic, 2-1, then stayed alive in the tournament with a 9-1 win over Minnesota Stealth.
Because of foul weather, it was decided to have one, winner-take-all game to determine the champion, rather than have the 906 Fastpitch team beat the Minnesota Magic twice.
As it turned out, the U.P. girls could not get the win, but finish as runners-up in a tournament that featured a whopping 84 teams.
Earlier, the girls picked up a 16-2 win Friday night, and 13-0 and 6-0 wins on Saturday, to advance to the Gold Bracket for Sunday's action.
