The BOLD batter can only look on and watch as United South Central catcher Grace Walton squeezes the ball and the umpire calls strike three during the Rebels’ 5-3 win over the Warriors in a Class A State Softball Semifinal game on Wednesday, June 3. Rebels’ pitcher Mariah Anderson had 16 strikeouts in the game.

It has been a long journey, and not always an easy one, but the United South Central Rebels have advanced to the Class A Softball Championship after defeating BOLD 5-3 in the State semi-final round at Caswell Park in Mankato on Wednesday, June 3.

The top-seeded and defending State Champion Rebels met No. 6-seeded West Lutheran in the championship game on Friday, June 5, at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium on the campus of the University of Minnesota after this edition of the Faribault County Register had gone to print.

Against BOLD, after a scoreless first inning, USC took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second stanza when Grace Walton had a lead-off walk, stole second base and scored on a single by Olivia Bird.

BOLD’s Ema Flann hit a two-out double in the top of the fourth inning and then scored on a USC error to tie the game at 1-1.

The Warriors took a 3-1 lead in the top of the fifth on a two-run homer by Piper O,ÄôNei after Kaitlyn Flann had singled to get on base.

“I knew when we gave up those two runs that we would not give up another,” USC coach TJ Schmidtke said. “Mariah (Anderson) got us going in the bottom of the inning with a hit, then Ivy (O’Rourke), Alivia (Bruegger) and Grace all got hits. That’s the playoffs – you hit or you go home.”

Anderson led off the bottom of the fifth with a single and then she stole second base. A single by O’Rourke advanced Anderson to third base.

Bruegger’s single plated Anderson with USC’s second run of the game while O’Rourke held up at third base. Bruegger advanced to second base without a throw from the catcher to put two Rebel runners in scoring position.

Walton came through in the clutch with a hard single that scored both O’Rourke and Bruegger to put USC back out in front 4-3. Walton then stole second base and moved to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Izzy Bird. Brielle Obermeyer’s single brought home Walton with USC’s fifth run of the contest.

Anderson went to work in the top of the sixth inning and struck out all three BOLD batters.

USC failed to score in the bottom of the sixth inning and the Rebels needed to record just three more outs to win the game.

Anderson went to a full count on BOLD’s lead-off batter before recording a strikeout. Another strikeout by Anderson put USC one out away from a victory and had Rebel fans on their feet. A single by O,ÄôNei put a temporary pause to the Rebels’ celebration before Anderson recorded her 16th strikeout of the game to send USC to the championship game.

“I knew we weren’t done when we fell behind by two runs,” Anderson said after the game. “I know that this team knows how to battle.”

The senior pitcher was also very happy to be heading to the championship game.

“It is very rewarding,” Anderson commented. “I am excited for the team, for myself and for our fans to be going back to the championship game again.”

Anderson threw a total of 95 pitches during the game with 72 of them being strikes. She gave up three runs, two earned on five hits. She did not walk a batter.

USC tallied 11 hits during the game. O’Rourke, Bruegger, Olivia Bird and Carissa Hanson each had two hits. Walton led the team with two runs batted in.

The Rebels head to the State Championship Game with a record of 25-4 while West Lutheran is 18-5.

USC 10, Sebeka 0

United South Central opened the defense of their State Championship with a 10-0 five-inning triumph over the Sebeka Trojans in the opening round of the 2026 State Softball Tournament played at Caswell Park in Mankato on June 2.

Brielle Obermeyer scored the only run the Rebels would need in the bottom of the second inning. She hit a one-out single which was followed by a single by Olivia Bird and a walk to Carissa Hanson to load the bases. A passed ball by the Trojans allowed Obermeyer to score for a 1-0 USC lead.

The Rebels added three more runs in the bottom of the second inning with the big blow coming off the bat of Grace Walton who belted a two-run homer with Alivia Bruegger on base.

Mariah Anderson led off the bottom of the fourth inning with a double and scored USC’s fifth run on a single by Bruegger.

Five runs by the Rebels in the bottom of the fifth inning made the score 10-0 and ended the game.

Obermeyer singled and Bird walked to start the inning. Both runners advanced a base on a sacrifice bunt by Hanson.

Hannah Niebuhr reached on a fielder’s choice when the Trojans fielded a ground ball and unsuccessfully tried to throw out Obermeyer at home. Anderson was intentionally walked to load the bases.

Ivy O’Rourke reached on a fielder’s choice when Sebeka was once again unsuccessful in trying to throw out the USC runner at home. Bird’s run gave the Rebels a 7-0 lead.

A sacrifice fly by Bruegger scored Gretchen Bungum, who was running for Niebuhr. Walton hit a game-ending double that scored Anderson and O’Rourke with the ninth and 10th runs.

USC had a total of nine hits. Anderson, Walton and Obermeyer each had two hits. Both of Walton’s hits went for extra bases, a home run and a double.

Walton led the team with four runs batted in followed by Bruegger with two.

Anderson was sharp on the mound. She allowed one hit, walked one batter and struck out 13 of the 17 batters she faced in five innings of work.

Sebeka ended their season with a record of 20 wins and seven losses.