By Steve Morris

An organizer of the Tri County Softball Tournament asked the North Branch U14 fast pitch softball team if they would play the earlier game, because, as he thought, they were accustomed to waking up early to milk cows.

Heading into the Tri County tournament, little expectations were on the North Branch team. After all, they were the last seed and had a record of 3-10-1.

Teams such as Tartan and Lakeville thought they would dominate the so called ìhicks from North Branch.î They had another thing coming, as North Branch defeated the top two seeds and finished third, earning a spot at the state tournament July 7, 8, and 9. It is the first time a North Branch U14 team has earned a spot at the tournament.

By the end of the weekend, crowds gathered to watch the hot North Branch team play.

ìWe gained some respect from teams down there,î head coach Chris Yelle said.

It all started on Friday, June 23. The Vikings beat a Lakeville team 8-1 and advanced to live another day. The following day, on June 24, North Branch played a triple header, winning the first two games and losing the last.

First, they upset No. 1 seed Tartan 8-7.

ìThey [Tartan] came into the game thinking they were going to kill us,î head coach Lori Wacha said.

Then the NB team moved on and beat the No 2. seed Lakeville Typhoons 11-2 which set up their last game of the day, which they lost 3-1 to the Lakeville Cyclones. Finally, on Sunday, they played the Lakeville Typhoons again, but lost 3-1, earning third place.

Catcher Kacey Fuller said she was happy with how her team played.

ìWe had a lot of fun,î she said. ìIt was a breakthrough for us.î

Wacha said she was impressed with her teamís performance at the tournament. On the weekend, everything was clicking.

ìOur pitching and hitting was phenomenal,î Wacha said. Everybody had an excellent weekend.î

Tiffany Anderson and Kelci Lofboom were the only two pitchers North Branch used in the tournament. Anderson was on her mark Saturday afternoon, throwing a no hitter

In addition, Amanda Sylla hit a grand slam and Andrea Yelle hit a game winning double on Saturday against Tartan.

The weekend aside, Wacha has her eye on the state tournament.

ìWe are going to practice our butts off until the state tournament.î