Posted: 8/23/06
Stacy team crowned state champs
 The Stacy Blue Ribbon slow pitch softball team smiles for a picture after they won the Minnesota Softball Federation class C state softball tournament Aug. 12-14 in Winona. The Blue Ribbon team pictured: (l to r) front row: Deb Pierce, Kristi Nelson, Colleen Beaver, Tanya Giese, Gina Hubley. Back row: Lindsay Miller, Lori LeVasseur, Kari Francis, Jacque Illig, Nancy Brant, Nancy Kreuser, Penny Danks, Karla Wittwer, Liz Fairbanks. Not Pictured: Tammi Minke, Kindra Helin, Mary Abress. |
By Steve Morris
For the first time in its 26 year history, the Stacy Blue Ribbon slow pitch softball team was crowned the Minnesota Softball Federation class C womenís state champions.
They won five straight games and placed first out of 18 teams at the state tournament in Winona Aug. 12-13. They beat Swenson Law 10-7 in the championship.
Deb Pierce was named the tournaments Most Valuable Player for her stellar performance on the mound and at the plate. Pierce pitched five straight games for the sweep of the tournament. Pierceís impressive pitching ran parallel with an equally impressive performance at the plate; she hit a team high .737. However, Pierce is humble about her award.
ìIt was difficult to accept,î she said. ìI wish they could have given it to the team.î
As a team they scored 60 runs in five games while holding their opponents to 33 runs. Nine out of 11 players batted above .500 in the tournament. Player/coach Kristi Nelson said everyone contributed for the wins.
ì ... you can see, it really was a team effort with all the players doing their part,î Nelson said.
Winning the state tournament qualified the women for a paid trip to the Amateur Softball Association national tournament held Aug. 31 through Sept. 4 in Bismarck, N.D.
The team enters nationals with a record of 38-1. During the season they won the Rush City, Shakopee and Stacy Days tournaments. Their only loss came during the last game of the regular season against Almelund.
Six of the 14 players have played for the team since its inaugural game 26 years ago in North Branch. During the years, they have played on several different fields in the area. They started in North Branch at the field by J.Jís Bowling Ally and then moved to Harder Park. Today, they play double headers every Thursday at Olson Memorial Field in Stacy.
Pierce, Nancy Kreuser, Lori LeVasseur, Liz Fairbanks, and Colleen Beaver are the only five players who have been with the team the entire 26 years.
Nelson has been with the team 25 years and said their years together has built a good foundation for the team. Many of the players having been playing together since they graduated from high school.
ìWe have friendships on and off the field,î she said.
The team has played at nationals before. In 2001 they qualified for nationals in Seattle by finishing third at the state tournament. However, they didnít play as well as they had hoped. Pierce said they lost their first two games.
ìWe hope to do much better this time,î Nelson said.
The team has a mixture of women from a variety of backgrounds. They have players that range in age from 24 up to 45.
Apart from all their success this season, Nelson is quick to say they wouldnít have been able to make it this far had it not been for the support of the local community. Nelson expresses a special thanks to the following businesses and people: Stacy Municipal Liquor Store, Stacy Lions, Stacy-Lent Fire Department, Lent Township, First State Bank of Wyoming, Timís Country Cupboard, Doug Miller and the many fans of Blue Ribbon softball.
ìWe thank you for all you do for us, and for enjoying this wonderful season with us,î Nelson said. Ý
Comment from kristi nelson, 8/23/06
Thanks Steve --- Nice Job!
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