The Randolph Rockets enter the State Softball Tournament in North Mankato Thursday with 21 home runs in 24 games this season.  The Rockets smashed three no doubt homers in their section championship game last week at the University of Northwestern in Roseville.  That's why I call them the orange crush.

#2 hitter sophomore Megan Erickson collected two and leads the team with 10.  She already has the career record with 18.  She also has over 150 career hits.  Head Coach Dennis Trom said after the game Erickson is a weight room junkie and lifted the morning of that game putting to rest any worries about lifting the day of a game.  The other homer was crunched by #9 hitter and classmate Chloe Kimmes.  It was her 4th homer of the season.

Coach Trom says people have asked why Kimmes hits ninth in the order and the simple answer is, "She loves hitting there."  You don't mess with success right?  Kimmes is part of a Randolph lineup that is hitting .363. It might also be perplexing to have the top home run hitter batting second but it's working.  Seven different players have hit home runs too.

The Rockets have been dominant this year with their only losses to bigger schools that have very good softball programs.  Zumbrota-Mazeppa defeated them 7-0 and Coon Rapids had a 7-1 win.

If my math is right those two losses add up to 14 of 33 runs allowed this season.  Meaning in their 22 wins they have outscored their opponents 262-19.  Including those two losses Randolph pitching has allowed 83 total hits while clobbering 238 themselves.

Junior pitcher Morgyn Otte added two pitches to her arsenal since the team was at last year's Class A State Tournament.  Coach Trom says in large part that's why the team has a ERA of 0.60.  Otte enters the State Tournament with a 20-2 record, 170 strikeouts in 128 innings pitched.  Otte has over 400 career strikeouts.

Erickson leads the team with a .536 batting average, 45 hits, 47 RBI.  I always say anytime a player gets 20 hits or more in a high school season they've had a very good year.  Five Randolph players have belted 20 hits or more.

The Rockets are 62-7 over the last three years.

The Isle Huskies were not ranked in the latest Minnesota Softball Coaches Association poll while Randolph is #3 in the poll and the #2 seed in the tournament.  The Huskies have a eye popping team batting average of .462 while sporting a 18-3 record.

Sophomore Isabelle Krawiecki is hitting .650 with 54 hits in their 21 games.  Classmate Tommi Spengler is batting .542 with 38 hits.  Senior Grace Carlson has 36 hits and a .497 average.   Senior Lexi Lancrain has 30 hits and a .424 batting average.

Spengler leads the team with 45 RBI.  The team has a total of 5 home runs.

Two pitchers have thrown all the varsity innings.  Freshman Jill Thompson has logged 84 inning with 71 strikeouts and an ERA of 1.83.  Her record is 12-2.  Junior Carly Gallion is 6-3 with a 1.71 ERA.  39 strikeouts in 45 innings pitched.

KDHL Radio will have the two Thursday Randolph games with coverage beginning approximately 12:45 p.m. for the first contest and 6:45 p.m. for their second game.  These games don't always start on time because there are games occurring before them on the fields.

The winner of the Randolph-Isle game plays the winner of the New Ulm Cathedral vs. Edgerton/SW Mn Christian contest.  The losers of those games also play each other in the later game.  If the Rockets win both games they are playing for the state title Friday at 2:30 p.m. on KDHL.

If the Rockets win their first game and lose in the semis then they play in the Third Place game at 11:00 a.m. Friday on KDHL 920 AM and the KDHL app.

If Randolph loses their first game and wins the late game they play for the Consolation Championship at 9:00 a.m. Friday.

Remember Waterville-Elysian-Morristown Thursday games are on POWER 96, 95.9 FM and the POWER 96 app.

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