Castlewood faced almost the same exact predicament as a year ago, and the Warriors produced the same exact result on Friday afternoon.

The defending State B champions needed some late-game heroics and came through in the clutch to claim a 5-3 win over Scotland-Menno in the semifinals of the State Softball Tournament at Players South Complex.

Castlewood rallied from a 2-1 deficit with four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, and then worked out of bases-loaded jam in the seventh to secure the victory.

“That was same thing last year, the semifinal game,” said Castlewood coach Craig Horn. “We were down three runs in the sixth and we got those four runs to win it.”

Warriors pitcher Claire Horn was unaware that her team was down to its final six outs against Scotland-Menno.

“I looked at the scoreboard and I realized it was the sixth inning and we were trailing,” she said, “and I was like, oh shoot, because I didn’t realize it was the sixth inning.”

Horn did her part in the four-run sixth inning, beating out an infield hit, producing the go-ahead run in the process.

“I wanted to hit,” said the eighth-grader. “I just had to sprint as fast as I could, and didn’t look at the ball. I was surprised I got on.”

Sophia Kudrna also contributed a sacrifice fly as the Warriors opened up a 5-2 lead. However, the drama was far from over.

Scotland-Menno connected for three straight singles to load the bases, and then pulled to within 5-3 on an infield hit by Olivia Binde. That brought up Trinity Bietz, who earlier in the game ripped a triple that nearly went over the fence.

“We threw that changeup to her earlier in the game, and she almost cranked that thing out of here,” Coach Horn said. “That was all power.”

Claire Horn definitely knew who she was facing at the plate. Bietz worked the count to 3-0 before she popped out.

“The game before I think she hit one over the fence,” said the pitcher, “so I just knew I couldn’t pitch one down the middle. I had to work around, but it worked.”

When asked if they considered an intentional walk, Coach Horn responded, “We did. We talked about it, but it was one of those things where we know our best can match up with their best.”

In the end, the youngster was up to the challenge.

“That was stressful,” Claire Horn said.

She then struck out the final batter to send the Warriors back to the championship game.

The Trappers definitely held their own, but were unable to finish off Castlewood.

“Their pitcher (Binde) pitched extremely well and had us off balance,” Coach Horn said. “It took us a while to find it. We were hitting right at them and they were making defensive plays. Scotland is a heckuva ballclub.”

It has proven to be a very successful cooperative between Scotland and Menno on the diamond.

“They’re a great group of kids. They’re a family,” said Trappers coach Aisha Abbink. “Two towns coming together. They just play so well together.”

Coach Horn is hoping that the tourney will play out the same way it did last year, now that his team has reached the final again.

“The semifinal game was hard last year, Arlington; this year Scotland, and I know the teams just keep getting better,” Horn said, “but it was more relaxing to play that championship game.”

Castlewood will take on once-beaten Chester in the title game around 5:30 this evening. The Flyers punched their ticket to the championship contest with a 10-4 win over Alcester-Hudson.

Chester was able to produce double-digit runs despite getting just five hits. The Flyers scored four runs in the third inning, and three runs in both the fourth and sixth frames.

Alexis Bauman drove in a pair of runs in the third and another in the sixth. She finished with two hits and three RBI. Jacy Wolf and Lauren Roberts each had two hits for the Flyers.

Elly Doering had a pair of doubles for the Cubs.

In consolation round action, Gayville-Volin had two six-run innings en route to a 15-3 win over Elkton-Lake Benton. Maia Achen had a two-run triple and Kendra Beeck-Waterman had a two-run home run in a six-run first inning, while G-V had six of its 12 hits in a six-run third.

In the other contest, Florence-Henry took advantage of a dozen errors to help fuel a 10-5 victory over Deuel.

Elizabeth Reiter and Andie Rislov each drove in runs in a key six-run fifth inning for the Falcons. Allison Stark finished with three RBI.

Kennedy Harmon and Katrina Hagberg each had two hits for the Cardinals. Hagberg also struck out 15 batters.

In addition to this evening’s title game, other contests today have Elkton-Lake Benton facing Deuel in the seventh place game at 10 a.m., Gayville-Volin against Florence-Henry for fifth at 12:30 p.m., and Scotland-Menno against Alcester-Hudson for third at 3 p.m.

Semifinals

Scotland-Menno 000 101 1 – 3 7 1

Castlewood 010 004 x – 5 9 2

Olivia Binde and Amanda Rames; Claire Horn and Lilly Jacobsen. 3B – Scotland-Menno, Trinity Bietz.

Chester 004 303 0 – 10 5 3

Alcester-Hudson 011 020 0 – 4 10 5 Lauren Roberts and Mara McDonald; Emma Moller and Paxtyn Moller. 2B – Chester, Alexis Bauman; Alcester-Hudson, Elly Doering (2), E. Moller.

Consolation

Elkton-Lake Benton 120 00 – 3 5 5

Gayville-Volin 606 3x – 15 12 0

Kylie Ramlo, Matti Ramlo (3) and Madde Jensen; Ayla Dimmer and Hailey Adams. 2B – Elkton-Lake Benton, Jensen; Gayville-Volin, A. Dimmer, Maia Achen. 3B – Elkton-Lake Benton, M. Ramlo; Gayville-Volin, Andrea Miller, Achen. HR – Gayville-Volin, Kendra Beeck-Waterman.

Florence-Henry 100 062 1 – 10 7 3

Deuel 111 020 0 – 5 6 12

Elizabeth Reiter and Allison Stark; Katrina Hagberg and Hope Bjerke. 2B – Florence-Henry, Stark; Deuel, Hagberg.