Last I spoke with Coach Mike Guzzo, the Silver Bay softball team was headed into the playoffs. They were about to travel to Cloquet for what he hoped would be a triple-header that would lead the team to the state championship. He was feeling pretty confident, but had also admitted that the competition this year was very evenly matched.
“All the teams are really good in our section,” Coach Guzzo had told me in our last interview.
With tight competition, the Mariners won their 1st game, then their 2nd, but lost to Cherry in the 3rd game, with the Tigers ending the season for the team.
“We had to win three games and unfortunately we won two,” Mike said. “We had a good finish. It’s not quite what we were hoping for in the end, but finishing 3rd in the section and 2nd the year before is not bad with a young team.”
Everything went well for Silver Bay in the first game of the day against Carlton/Wrenshall. According to the coach, “We had a 10-2 lead on them into the last inning, so we took care of business pretty good in that first game.”
Berkley Hoff proved to be the winning pitcher. She had 4 earned runs but only 6 hits. She had 5 strikeouts. Katie Carpenter was 2 for 3 and scored 2 runs. Her teammate Kinley Nelson was 2 for 4 that game and scored 3 runs.
The final score against Carlton/Wrenshall was 10-6 and the girls advanced to the second game. The momentum was harnessed, and Silver Bay made good use of it against the Ely Timberwolves.
“They got 2 runs in the first inning, then Maddie Ollman settled down and pitched a great game,” said the coach. She also scored 3 runs on offense and was 1 for 3. Lilly Ernest was 2 for 4. The game ended in a 11-2 score.
It was the 3rd game that was the team’s downfall. Cherry had proved to be a tough rival for Silver Bay this season, having bested them twice during the regular season. Perhaps it was nerves, perhaps it was being worn out from playing 3 games in rapid succession, but the team couldn’t rally after a bad inning partway through the game.
“We made a couple mistakes, and they had a couple hits. One call from the umpire and the next thing you know they’ve got five runs on the board and we’re chasing them the last three innings.”
The Mariners only lost 5 games this season and 3 of them were to Cherry. Their overall record was 18-5-0. They ended 3rd in their section, and 1st in the Polar League Class A. On top of that, they racked up some pretty good honors.
Katie Carpenter made All- State and will play at the All- State All-Star game in Mankato. She is 1 of 22 class A players selected for the game. She made All-State 2nd Team, as well, as a catcher.
The Polar Conference has an All-Star game and 4 of the players made the team: Katie Carpenter, Brooke Velcheff, Berkley Hoff, and Maddie Ollman. 2 teammates also made the Section 7A Team: Katie Carpenter and Kinley Nelson.
Along with these honors, the team also awarded the players individually for the roles they played this year.
- MVP: Katie Carpenter
- Best Offense: Maddie Ollman
- Best Defense: Berkely Hoff
- Rookie of the Year: Kinley Nelson
- Most Improved: Anna Klemmer and Lily Ernest
Coach Mike Guzzo is proud of the team and the Silver Bay softball program.
“Kids want to be in it,” he said. “Kids want to keep the tradition going. To be a successful winning program. They put their time in and so do the coaches. I got good coaches and they all put the time in.”
Everyone had a fun time this season and the coach looks forward to the next, as I’m sure all the Mariner’s fans and players do, as well. The team will miss the 2 seniors, Katie Carpenter and Brooke Velcheff for their contributions to the softball program throughout their high school careers. Silver Bay is lucky that there is some up-and-coming talent that will ensure next season will be a fun one to cover, as well!
