Champlin Park Rebels Reach State Tournament for First Time

Champlin Park, Minnesota — The Champlin Park softball team made history Thursday by advancing to the Class 4A state tournament for the first time in program history. The Rebels defeated the Rogers Royals 1-0 in the Section 5 championship, buoyed by a stellar performance from junior pitcher Marissa Rothenberger.

Rothenberger’s pitching was key in the tight match as she showcased her skills by giving up eight hits while striking out key hitters to secure the win. The Rebels ended their season with an impressive 21-2 record.

The day was marked by challenges, including the absence of head coach Bryan Woodley due to health issues. A rainstorm briefly delayed the game, but it did not affect the Rebels’ spirits. “We’re a senior-laden team,” said assistant coach Trevor Blaska. “There’s a lot of leadership there. These girls have a will to win.”

The only run of the game came in the second inning. Chloe Postma kicked off the inning with a single, and her pinch-runner, Sydney Burnevik, advanced to third after a sacrifice bunt. Burnevik later scored on a groundout by Lauren Heltemes, providing the Rebels with a lead that would prove decisive.

Rogers, last year’s state champions, fought hard but struggled to threaten Rothenberger on the mound. Senior infielder Reese Reimler expressed confidence in her. “You could tell she was ready to play today. We have 110% confidence in her. She’s the hardest worker I know,” she said.

The Royals did mount a final challenge in the last inning, placing runners on first and second with one out. However, Rothenberger responded with a crucial strikeout and then induced a pop-up, sealing the championship and igniting a jubilant celebration for the Rebels.

<p“It’s awesome. We’ve come close a bunch of times before, but we were never able to pull through,” senior center fielder Ava Parent said. “But this time we did and it was awesome.”