Elk Point-Jefferson Stuns Top Seed Madison in Class A Softball Quarterfinals

ABERDEEN — In a surprising turn of events during the Class A state high school softball quarterfinals, eighth-seeded Elk Point-Jefferson triumphed over the top-seeded Madison Bulldogs with a score of 3-1 on Thursday at the Players Softball Complex. With this victory, EPJ (10-6) is set to face West Central in the state semifinals on Friday at 2 p.m. This matchup marked a rematch of a previous game on May 19, where Madison narrowly edged out EPJ with an 11-10 win.

The game began with EPJ taking an early lead in the first inning, thanks to an error by Madison that allowed Molly Geary to score from second base on a ground ball hit by Bailey Johnson. The Bulldogs quickly equalized in the same inning with an RBI single from Kelcie Dudley. However, the Huskies regained control in the third inning, when Cera Schmitz delivered a clutch two-out RBI single, scoring Geary and putting EPJ ahead at 2-1. A passed ball later allowed Schmitz to cross home plate, extending their lead to 3-1.

Regan Rasmussen, pitching for EPJ, effectively stifled Madison's offense, yielding only three hits and one unearned run while striking out seven batters. Schmitz contributed significantly to the Huskies' efforts with two hits, including a triple, while Rasmussen herself added a single. Madison struggled to capitalize on multiple opportunities, leaving runners stranded throughout the game.

In another quarterfinal matchup, No. 4 West Central secured a narrow victory against No. 5 Beresford, relying on crucial hits in the sixth inning to win. After a misplayed bunt single by Sophie Rolfson allowed Teagan Lupkes to score, Briauna Hoff followed up with an RBI single, pushing West Central's lead to 2-0. The Trojans will take on Elk Point-Jefferson next.

Meanwhile, second-seeded Tri-Valley overcame a rocky start, trailing 4-0 before rallying to score 13 unanswered runs against their opponent. The Mustangs' impressive performance included standout contributions from No. 9 hitter Isabella Wetmore-Ocampo, who recorded three hits and four RBIs. In contrast, Dakota Valley's Emma Barnett showcased her pitching prowess with 11 strikeouts in a complete-game effort, leading her team to a victory over Sioux Valley. Dakota Valley will face Tri-Valley in the semifinals.